Alice T. Tribendis

Alice Theodora Tribendis passed away peacefully on December 2, 2018 at the age of 100 at the Tel Hai Retirement Community where she lived since 1996. 

Alice was born on May 22, 1918 in Jerome, PA, one of eight children of Mary and Joseph Lechefsky.  Alice was a first-generation American as both of her parents immigrated from Poland to the US at the turn of the 20th century. As a young child the family moved to the Erie, PA area where Alice attended primary and high schools in Edinboro.  Alice became attracted to the idea of becoming a nurse after encountering the women in white after an injury and while visiting family in the hospital.  This idea became a reality in 1942, when she graduated from St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in Erie. Alice loved to tell the story of how her mother sold her “best” cow to cover two years of nursing school expenses, which at that time cost $100.

Graduating from nursing school during WWII, Alice, along with 7 of her graduate colleagues joined the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in 1943.  Although Alice thought that joining the Army would allow her to travel the world, her first assignment was only 72 miles from home at Camp Reynolds, PA.  Despite the local assignment, the stars were aligned as Alice met George Tribendis at the Officer’s Club in September 1943.  As was common during these times, Alice and George married ten weeks later on November 14, 1943 and remained husband and wife until George’s death in March of 1999. After finding out she was pregnant in January 1944, Alice was officially discharged from the service without seeing any of the world.

Although Alice and George did not see the world, they moved often due to George’s employment; first with the Army and then with the Veteran’s Administration.  In addition to Camp Reynolds, Alice and her family lived in Philadelphia, Coatesville, and Butler, PA and then to Canandaigua and Staten Island, NY.  George’s last move took the family back to the Chester County area where they settled in Exton in 1966.  Along the way Alice and George had five children:  Carol Jean, Kathleen, George Jr, Alicia and Mary.

While in Chester County Alice worked at the Chester County Hospital for 11 years as a registered nurse, briefly working in the Emergency Department but then settled into a long-term assignment in the Maternity Department.  Alice also spent several years doing private duty nursing for prominent families in the county. 

Alice was noted for her keen eye for home decorations and always maintained a beautiful environment.  She was also a very sharp dresser.

Alice is survived by her children, Carol Jeanne Brown, Kathleen A. Gebara (Wally), George F. Tribendis, Jr. (Linda), Alicia T. Ballantyne and Mary Tribendis Balkum (Teri); brother, Walter Lechefsky; and her seven grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Visitations from 2-4pm on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 N. Church St. West Chester, PA 19380, 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com and from 9-10am on Monday, December 10, 2018 at St. Agnes Church 233 W. Gay St. West Chester, PA 19380; followed by her Funeral Mass at 10am.

Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, West Chester, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contribution may be made to a charity of your choice.