Alice Joyce (Bauer) Bennett passed away Wednesday, October 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois surrounded by her family. Alice was born on March 4, 1932 in Bloomington, Indiana to Michael and Blanche Bauer. She was a graduate of Bloomington High School.

In 1952, Alice married Jack Bennett, and they established a home in Bloomington where they raised their four children. The family moved to Big Rapids, Michigan in 1975 when Jack became the founding Dean of the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University, and then moved back to Bloomington in 1988 when he assumed the position of Dean of the Optometry School at Indiana University.

Alice enjoyed sewing, creating items for the home or clothes for her children. She had a passion for interior design and loved taking on do-it-yourself projects. It wasn't unusual to see her painting, wallpapering, or rearranging furniture until the early hours of the morning.

Alice took pride in supporting Jack's career as a consummate hostess and as an active member of the Women's Auxiliary to the American Optometric Association, serving a term as its National President. Alice was similarly supportive of the lives of her children, often volunteering at school and serving as a Den Mother in the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. You could also count on Alice always being on the sidelines or in the stands at any sporting event for a team on which one of her children played.

Alice's love of sports was not limited to her own children's teams, she was an avid Indiana University sports fan and could be quite vocal when the Hoosiers were winning, or when she didn't like how the game was going. She also enjoyed playing softball, volleyball, croquet, etc., especially when her many brothers and sisters were involved.

Alice's energetic and creative spirit served her well as a window display designer for local department stores in Bloomington, as an adjunct faculty member teaching Merchandise Display at Ferris State University, and in her own color consultation business.

Alice's greatest joy, though, was her family. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Bennett, and is survived by her children Debra VanDeventer (Ed) of Oro Valley, Arizona, Brad Bennett (Connie) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Susan Bennett (Chris Paluch) of Chicago, Illinois, and Mark Bennett (Phil Robertson) of Evanston, Illinois, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held for Alice at 2:00 pm on December 13 2025, in the Chapel at the First United Methodist Church, 219 East 4th Street, Bloomington, IN with a reception to follow in the church's Great Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her behalf may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.