Alice Ann Kovall, 99, of Grass Valley, Calif., formerly of Ely, dies

Alice Ann Kovall, 99, of Grass Valley, Calif., formerly of Ely, passed away in Grass Valley on Nov. 7, 2016.
Alice was born June 4, 1917, the daughter of immigrants Steve Kovall (Austria/Hungary) and Margaret Staresinich Kovall Chelesnik (Slovenia). Alice attended the Ely schools and moved to California in 1936 to join her husband who had found work in the restaurant business. It was in California where Alice raised her family, although through the years she made regular return visits to the Ely Area to visit family members.
Alice spent much of her working life in Palo Alto, where she worked from 1960-1985 as clinic coordinator at Stanford University Medical Center.
During the early years of her retirement, Alice was an active member of St. Athanasius Catholic Church of Mountain View. Her weekday routine included early morning mass followed by a five mile walk. With the help of her children, she was able to live independently in the same apartment for nearly 30 years.
At age 96, Alice relocated to Grass Valley to be closer to family. She spent her last years in the kind and loving care of the wonderful staff at Brunswick Village Assisted Living Facility.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Angela Skala, Margaret Deyak, Agnes Jenko, Helen Strukel and Edward Kovall.
Alice is survived by three children: Tom Blackwood, Bobette Blackwood and Ken Kunkel; five grandchildren: Eric Shaffer, Julie Seldes, Justin Blackwood, Chris Blackwood and Melinda Kunkel; great grandchildren: Mason, Bennet, Dylan, Henry, Ethan and brother Robert Kovall of Ely.