Alicia Waldeck

Alicia Waldeck, age 93, a long-time resident of Montville and most recently of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 8, 2023.

Alicia was born in Monaville, West Virginia, a genuine coal miner’s daughter. Along with her sister Dolores and brother Joe, Alicia was raised in Monaville by her parents Joseph and Dolores (Carrizo) Lozano, who were both originally from Bacares, Spain. The family then moved to Newark, NJ where Alicia graduated from high school.

As a young woman Alicia enjoyed frequent travel. Her travels included ski vacations out west and trips to Spain with her sister and close family. One time, the ski club she belonged to combined with another ski club for a trip to Europe. During that trip, Alicia met Bob who was blessed with an outgoing personality, a great sense of humor, and an inner kindness that was apparent to her in no time. They skied together in Europe and quickly fell for each other. They married on Saturday, November 21, 1959.

After their marriage, Alicia and Bob’s first home as husband and wife was in Bob’s two-hundred-year-old family homestead which stood in the vicinity of what was then known as the infamous “Killer Bend” of Route 23 in Wayne. Bob and his father built Alicia’s dream home in Montville where they moved their family to in 1966. Alicia lived in Montville until just eight months ago when she moved to the newly constructed Brightview Gardens in Wayne.

Alicia was the classic homemaker who provided a clean home filled with warmth and love where the togetherness of family was always valued. She was ever present at her children’s school functions and milestone moments. Her Sunday family dinners were always delicious and never missed. During the holidays she was famous for her apple and pumpkin pies.

When their children were still very young, Alicia and Bob, along with her sister Dolores, managed to find the money to purchase an A frame chalet in Stockbridge, Vermont. The cost of the house at the time was a mere eight-thousand dollars. Every summer, the family vacationed there, and every winter, they would ski together on the slopes of nearby Pico Mountain Ski Resort.

Alicia eventually returned to the workplace in various administrative jobs, the most recent being with Goulds Pumps in Fairfield. Along with retirement came the blessing of two grandsons, Bobby and Christian. Alicia and Bob thoroughly enjoyed spending their well-deserved leisure time with the boys. They took regular trips to their house in Long Valley and never missed any of their sporting events, concerts, or any other school activity. One of their greatest joys was taking them skiing which Alicia did until she was seventy. They could not have been more proud of those boys!

Alicia along with her husband Bob and family experienced tragedy several times in their life journey. They lost a beautiful daughter Laura Waldeck at age five to cancer and then in 1985 their son Robert was killed in an auto accident at age 19. The loss of her children had a profound effect upon their lives, causing many hard days. But through those hard days, it was the love and support of strong family ties that helped pull them through. Despite the pain of loss, Alicia was able to experience a sense of gratefulness for the blessings in her life.

Surviving to mourn her passing are her two loving daughters: Karen Lutz and her husband Walter Lutz of Springfield, and Roberta Diaz and her husband John Diaz of Caldwell; two adored grandchildren: Bobby Diaz and Christian Diaz, and nieces Lisa Smith and Sandra Massarano. Alicia was the beloved wife of Robert “Bob” Waldeck, blessed in a loving marriage for 50 years until his passing on March 24, 2010; and the dear sister of Dolores Lozano, her brother Joseph Lozano and his wife Mary who all predeceased her.

Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 from 4-8 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.

An 11:00 AM Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Immediately following the service, Alicia will be laid to rest at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Upper Montclair.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Alicia’s name are asked to consider:

Alzheimer’s New Jersey
Attn: Development Dept.
425 Eagle Rock Avenue, #203
Roseland, NJ 07068

Please make your check payable to Alzheimer’s New Jersey.