Alice M. Freelove

In Loving Memory of Alice M. (Snow) Freelove July 3, 1933 – September 9, 2026 Alice M. (Snow) Freelove, age 93, passed away peacefully on September 9th, 2026, at Kent Hospital in Warwick. Alice was born on July 3rd, 1933, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to the late Richard and Alice (Wilding) Snow. She grew up in Harmony, Rhode Island, and graduated high school with the class of 1951, soon ready to take on the world with what would become a profound resilience. Her very first job was in filing at Amica Insurance in Providence—a time she remembered vividly, as she was working there when the historic Hurricane Carol struck the region in 1954. In 1955, Alice married Forrest E. Bryant, Jr., and though they later separated, she still shared with him the greatest joys of her life: her four children—Jeffery (b. 1955), David (b. 1956), Mark (b. 1959), and Cynthia (b. 1963). While raising her children, she worked at a jewelry company called Uncas, before moving the family to Scituate, Rhode Island in 1966. It was here that Alice discovered her lifelong passion for healthcare and care-giving. She began working at a local care facility first as a kitchen aid and then prepping food for the residents meals, before advancing her career to work as a nurse’s aid at Cedar Crest and then moved onto working as an aid on the 4th floor of the Cranston Medical Center. A devastating car accident derailed Alice’s life in 1969, leaving her with crushed legs and facing a potential amputation. However, with her aforementioned profound resilience, along with a miraculous surgery that has astounded young medical students for decades, Alice was not only able to save her legs, but also learned how to walk again after a grueling year of recovery. She returned to a life where she lived with very little and didn’t have much to offer, but it still never stopped her charitable nature. She continued to do good deeds, such as inviting a homeless woman she passed on the street to lunch with her, even though she had so little to give. Once her children had left the nest and she was on her own, Alice escaped an apartment building fire with only the clothes on her back and not even her glasses. From the late 1970s to 1986, Alice relocated to Maynard, Massachusetts where she spent a short amount of time living with one of her sons. Ever adaptable, she embraced her challenges, working at Digital Corporation where she transferred data to microfiche, and later in the mail room at The Beacon newspaper in Acton. During this chapter of her life, she experienced unimaginable heartbreak when her fiancé, William Renfrew, was tragically killed in a utility truck accident just days before Christmas, 1983. Alice returned home to Rhode Island in 1986, living with her daughter for a time and bringing a characteristic energy only she could exude to several local companies, including Weingroff Enterprises, Scott’s Labs, and Stretch Products. She even found joy in the early mornings, helping her dear friend Carol on her weekend newspaper delivery route, and packing chicken eggs into cartons for market on the farm where one of her sons lived. In 1991, Alice moved to reside in senior housing at The Manor on Roberts Street in West Warwick. True to her nature, she immediately pitched in and joined the community, serving as the secretary for the activities association for almost her entire seventeen years spent living there. In 1998, Alice retired from the traditional workforce to step into perhaps her favorite role: babysitting her first grandchild, Jonathan, full-time. In 1999, she joined the West Warwick Senior Center, becoming a beloved fixture there for 25 years, rarely missing a weekday lunch, field trip, holiday celebration, or special dinner. Alice was also a gifted and passionate singer. She joined the Pawtuxet Valley Community Chorus (PVCC) in 2002, proudly performing in her first Christmas concert on December 15, 2002, and continuing to share her gift of music with the community until her final Christmas concert in 2014. During this time, she joyfully welcomed her second grandchild in 2004, Alissa, and once again stepped up as a full-time babysitter for a few more years before permanently retiring. From April 2008 until December 2024, Alice lived in a warm, bustling family home with her daughter and beloved grandchildren. Together, they created cherished daily memories: embarking on spontaneous adventures, hauling cinder blocks up a hill for her grandson, and letting her granddaughter paint her face like a clown as she basked in her favorite sunny spot on the deck. That deck, a place where Alice spent countless joyful afternoons with her daughter Cynthia, became a symbol of their close bond. After many years of happiness, Alice became a resident at West View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following a stroke just before Christmas, 2024. Alice was a woman who truly loved life and people. Wherever she went, and wherever she lived, she made friends. She had a rare warmth that allowed her to strike deep, meaningful conversations, even with random strangers while sitting on a bench. She lived a life defined by her resilience, hard work, deep friendships, and unwavering love for her family. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy of kindness and community spirit. She enjoyed the Red Sox, watching Patriots football games with her daughter (even if she didn't really understand the game), lighthouses, going for a drive anywhere, island hopping, and eagles, which she is flying with now since she's no longer afraid of heights. She is greatly loved and missed. She was the devoted daughter of the late Richard and Alice (Wilding) Snow, the cherished fiancée of the late William Renfrew, and was predeceased by her beloved brother, Richard Snow, Jr. (1935–2020). She is survived by her four children: Jeffrey Forrest Bryant, David Michael Bryant, Mark Joseph Bryant and his wife Judy (D'Ambra), and Cynthia Alice Bryant Bates. She was the incredibly proud and devoted grandmother of Jonathan Robert Bates (Emily), and Ali Carolyn Bryant (born Alissa Carolyn Bates). She also leaves behind many dear friends too numerous to mention. The family will be holding a private celebration of life to honor Alice's memory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her honor to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.