09/17/2023
Alice Sawaya Aydjian, 66, of Moorestown and Ocean City, passed away on September 14, 2023 surrounded by her loving and faithful family.
Alice had an incredibly big heart, her home always had an open door with a table full of food, and her devout love for the Lord made her an angel on earth. She was loving, generous, hospitable, and compassionate toward family, friends, customers, and strangers alike. A selfless, humble servant, she quietly, but joyfully, sprinkled kindness everywhere she went and to anyone she met.
Alice was born in 1956 in Kfarhouna, a small village in the mountains of Lebanon, where she lived until she emigrated to the United States in 1978. Upon arrival in America, she settled in Burlington County, New Jersey.
The epitome of the American Dream, Alice was an entrepreneur who built several businesses throughout South Jersey. Using her culinary talents, she launched Zena’s, a Lebanese restaurant that was located on Route 70 in Cherry Hill. She also owned several shoe stores in Washington Township, Collingswood and Ocean City, where her flagship, namesake store, Alyse’s Shoes, has been located for more than three decades on Asbury Avenue. It is here that her loyal customers came to know and love her incredible spirit and joie de vivre.
When she wasn’t working, Alice loved cooking feasts, playing slots at the casinos, traveling, golfing, going to shows, drinking coffee, listening to music, and watching football.
As much as she loved these pastimes, she most enjoyed spending time with her family. Alice is survived by her children, Kevork Aydjian (Jennifer), Verginie (Tom Braddock), and Angela (Rob Morrison), and their father, Haroutioun Aydjian. She was an adored Teyta (Grandmother in Arabic) to her six grandchildren, Elias Jude, Katherine Marie, Alexandria Grace, Francesca Saada, Gabriel Haroutioun, and Ronan Otto, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and godchildren. She also leaves behind her partner Harry Verna; four sisters, Marie (Panos Joulakian), Laure Sawaya, Gladisse (John Abboud), and Denise (Rafic Esper); and one brother, Andre Sawaya (Lisa Harkins).
She was predeceased by her parents, Sawaya Sawaya and Saada Sawaya, and three of her siblings, Hassiba Talchy, Elias Sawaya and George Sawaya, as well as her pets, Spike, Clementine, and Kiwi.
Relatives and friends are invited to Alice’s visitation and funeral on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 9am-11am at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 42 West Main Street, Moorestown NJ 08057. A Funeral Mass will be said at 11am, followed by interment at Jesus, Bread of Life Cemetery in Mount Laurel.
In lieu of flowers, family kindly requests that donations be made to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church using the link below.
Parish Giving
https://www.parishgiving.org/index?e=7413602768F8D3E89308207EAFB363D5FF5F1120FFE792A10F53643DFC33C371A9AD055D6F6688F5A13AE927557AE37A (https://www.parishgiving.org/index?e=7413602768F8D3E89308207EAFB363D5FF5F1120FFE792A10F53643DFC33C371A9AD055D6F6688F5A13AE927557AE37A)
