Alice Schwartz (née Muller), 89, of Morristown, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, adventure, and quiet strength.

Alice was born on January 8, 1937, in Oberruti, Switzerland. She was raised alongside two brothers and three sisters on her family’s dairy farm, where she learned the value of hard work, responsibility, and caring for others. From an early age, Alice helped maintain the farm while also finding joy in the animals and outdoor farm life she cherished throughout her life. Her upbringing shaped her into a woman who was strong and practical, yet deeply nurturing and compassionate.

Alice attended local grade school before being accepted into a higher education school in a neighboring town. Eager to learn and explore, she later traveled to the French-speaking region of Switzerland, where she spent a year improving her French while working as a hospital nurse’s aide. She went on to attend business night school and worked in office positions for several years. Always adventurous, Alice spent a year in London, where she learned English while working as a nanny for a family, an experience that broadened her world and deepened her love of travel.

In 1965, Alice and her sister Rita set out together to continue their English studies by traveling to America. They sailed by ship from London to New York and then journeyed by bus to Los Angeles. There, Alice worked various jobs, including as a nanny for a young family and as a chauffeur for an elderly couple. After saving enough money, she and Rita embarked on a two-month cruise around the world, visiting places such as New Zealand, the Philippines, and Hawaii, forming lasting friendships and memories along the way.

In 1967, Alice and Rita settled in New York City. It was there that Alice met the love of her life, Arthur. The two quickly fell in love and were married in 1969. They first made their home in Cliffside Park before settling in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, where they lived for the next 40 years. During that time, Alice worked in various office roles, including positions at Loews Corporation and Toys ‘R Us. Fair Lawn was also where Alice and Arthur raised their beloved daughter, Melissa. Alice was an extraordinary mother who balanced work, school activities, home-cooked meals, and the care of their many household pets all while creating a home filled with warmth and love. Alice also loved gardening, creating beautiful flower and vegetable gardens around her Fair Lawn home, and later sharing that passion as a member of the Garden Club at Parsons Village in Morristown, where she lived for the past 13 years.

Alice was immensely talented and creative. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crafting, often making Melissa’s Halloween costumes and doll clothing by hand. She had a remarkable gift for organization and frequently volunteered to help organize the supply closets in Melissa’s classroom where she teaches elementary school. Alice was also the handy one in the family, often wallpapering and painting rooms, fixing plumbing issues, and tackling household repairs.

Alice attended church every Sunday, and when she was no longer able to go in person, she faithfully watched Mass on television. Her lifelong love of travel never faded, and she continued to visit places like Panama and Switzerland well into her eighties. Alice also had a profound love for animals, especially cats, and opened her heart and home to many senior cats through rescue organizations.  Most importantly,  Alice found her greatest joy in spending time with her daughter Melissa and her son-in-law Brian, and caring for her two dearest grandchildren, Shayla and Colin. After Melissa returned to work, Alice enjoyed spending several days each week taking her grandchildren to the library, gymnastics classes, and their favorite lunch spots, creating cherished memories together. 

Alice is survived by her daughter, Melissa Leonard and son-in-law, Brian Leonard; her treasured grandchildren, Shayla and Colin; her sister, Sophie Kammermann; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Schwartz; her parents, Alois and Anna Muller; and her brothers and sisters, Alois Muller, Anna Urscheler, Paul Muller, and Rita Seegenschmidt.

Memorial Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Memorial Service will be at 5:30pm at the funeral home. A private burial with family will take place at Somerset Hills Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Alice’s memory to St. Hubert’s Animal Shelter in Madison, New Jersey.

Alice’s kindness, strength, and quiet good nature will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved her.