CHELSEA – Alice M. (Tillson) Golden, 83, dear wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and matriarch of the family, was peacefully called to her eternal home on Aug. 17, 2023. Alice passed away peacefully, at her home surrounded by her loving family after a long and courageous battle with kidney disease.

Alice was born on June 25, 1940, to LeRoy S. Tillson and Alice M. (Jones) Tillson of Augusta. She was the eighth of nine children and grew up in the Augusta area.

Alice attended the old St. Mary’s school in Augusta and was a member of the church and graduated in 1956 with her GED. After her mom passed away in 1955, Alice worked various jobs to help support the family starting at the age of 16, working as a waitress at Foster’s Restaurant in Augusta. Some of her other jobs were at local shoe shops with the most recent working for The Bureau of Taxation, State of Maine, retiring in 1999. She loved to write and had exquisite handwriting. She once wrote an English composition paper about her Mother’s death while in grammar school. Teacher told her that if she typed it up that she would submit it into Readers Digest.

Some of her favorite hobbies included, reading, cooking and gardening. She could grow anything and loved to water her plants and get outside in the dirt in springtime which was her favorite season when everything bloomed and came alive again. She also liked taking pictures of all of her grandchildren around the home that she lived in for 50 years. She had specific spots around the home where each grandchild would have their picture taken and would carefully place each photo in an album to remember later. She enjoyed gambling from time-to-time at Foxwoods or Oxford casino with her daughter, Terry and son-in-law, Jim. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune and always stayed up on current events. She would often attend plays with family in New York City back in the ’90s and early 2000s and loved the arts.

The center of Alice’s life was her family. From a very young age, she adored her five older brothers, Roy, Richard, Robert, Edward and Kenneth along with her two older sisters, Marion L., and Marion C. as well as her younger sister, Gertrude (Trudy). She wrote “I could always count on my brothers and sisters to help us when it was needed, they were always there for me and Trudy, especially Bob.” Alice and her younger sister, Trudy, were two peas in a pod. Where there was one, there was the other. Although Alice admittedly teased her often, they could always be seen in photo’s together right up until Trudy’s passing a year ago and were always there for one another. Their birthdays were in the same month and Alice would always boast about how her older sister, Marion L., would make them a cake on their birthday. This past year was difficult for Alice without Trudy in her life. She recently commented that she couldn’t wait to see her again along with her mother, who she hadn’t seen since 1955. Once, when Alice and Trudy were younger, Trudy almost drowned while swimming and one of their friends, Bobby Moore, saved her life. She spoke fondly of Bobby and he remained a part of their life ever since.

Alice loved to attend the Tillson Family Reunion in Sidney where her entire family was present at the pig roast. She would show her love for her family by doing things such as cooking and helping to plan for family events. She was an excellent cook. From holidays to birthday parties, everyone always looked forward to her macaroni salad or her holiday stuffing and Christmas cookies. She made an incredible seafood chowder and homemade pies. It gave her extreme comfort to be able to provide for her family and to be with all of them whenever she could, especially during the holidays.

Alice once wrote that she “had friends most of her life but would not consider herself popular or unpopular.” In life though, she was extremely popular to her family and friends. She would do anything for anyone in need and always held a level of empathy and compassion for those less fortunate. She always worried about her children and grandchildren. Alice was always positive and encouraging to her family and loved to attend basketball games, dance recitals and school activities. The day she became a grandmother, her life was complete – she adored her role as an extension of parenthood and loved doing things for her grandchild. As more grandkids came along, her heart became more full – they were her life. Danielle, BreAnna, Adam, Brandon and Katelyn “Katie” and great-grandson, LJ.

Alice loved to collect poems. One of her favorite poems by an unknown author is called – “My Child”

I love you to the moon and back, and then way far beyond;
Without you here to give me life,
My heart does not go on.
For you, my child, were life to me,
The song within my soul;
Without you I am empty,
A half that once was whole.
No matter where you are, my child,
Just know you’ll always be;
As close as my next heartbeat,
For your heart resides in me
I’ll always be your Mother,
You’ll always be my child;
For in my heart, I’ll keep your love,
And we’ll never say goodbye

“To my children and grandchildren. Live your lives; get to where you’re going and I will see you when you get here. All my love”.

Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and wife, Alice is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, James J. Golden “Jimmy” of Chelsea. Jimmy loved her dearly and was instrumental in her care during these most recent times, along with daughter, Terry and son-in-law, Jim. Together they loved to travel, garden, dine out and be together but mostly spend time with family and events.

Additional survivors include daughter, Theresa “Terry” Carroll and husband James of Chelsea, son, Scott Dunbar and June Cumler of Winthrop, son, Daniel Tibbs and daughter-in-law, Deborah Tibbs of Manchester; grandsons Adam Dunbar of Winthrop, Brandon Tibbs of Augusta, granddaughters Danielle Tibbs and fiancé Jonny Campbell of Salem, BreAnna Dunbar and fiancé Matt Eastman of Harrison, Conn., and Katelyn Tibbs of Manchester; great-grandson, LJ Campbell of Salem; loving brother, Edward Tillson and Nancy Butler of Sidney; life-long friend, Bobby Moore; and many nephews, nieces; extended family and friends.

Alice was predeceased by her parents, LeRoy S. Tillson and Alice M. Tillson (Jones) of Augusta; son, Michael A. Tibbs of Jeffersonville, Ind.; brothers Roy Tillson, Robert Tillson, Richard Tillson, and Kenneth Tillson, sisters Marion T. Cousins of Sidney, Marion L. Letendre of Interlachen, Fla., Gertrude “Trudy” Gerrier Tillson of New Hampshire; and life-long friend, Connie Levesque of Scarborough.

A huge thank you to the staff at Fresenius Medical Care in Augusta and to “Molly”, Thank you for everything you’ve done to extend our beloved Mother’s life here with us – you are so appreciated. Mom always felt comforted by everyone there. Also thanks to Maine General Hospice and to everyone sending their prayers and memories; and to Uncle Ed, Mom’s only surviving brother who was by her side every day to see his little sister off. She loved you.

At her wishes, there will be no visiting hours – a private family gathering will occur at her home. Interment will be at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta.

Mom – we miss you already. Our world will never be the same without you but we know you are safe, wrapped in the arms of God and at peace and will greet us one day.

With great love and adoration, your family.

Arrangements are in the care of the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta where condolences and memories may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website by visiting http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Kennebec Valley Humane Society in honor of Alice’s love for pets.

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