Dr. Alice Rachel Greaves

Dr. Alice Rachel Greaves, of Cordova, TN, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, January 9th.
Alice was born in Chicago, IL, 23 July 1946, to Marcus Hanna Greaves and Margaret Mary Sheridan.  In 1948, the Greaves family relocated to Michigan City, IN, where Alice spent her childhood.
Alice attended high school at the School of the Brown County Ursulines in Fayetteville, OH.  After graduation, she entered the Ursulines of Brown County.  During that time, she earned her BA from the College of Mt. St. Joseph.  She went on to teach Spanish at Brown County and at the Ursuline Academy in Cincinnati, and served in a parish in the Appalachian community of Manchester, KY.  While in Appalachia, she helped write a grant for federal crime prevention funds with which she helped establish the Cumberland Valley Women’s Shelter, which is still in existence today.  She held the positions of President and Vice-President on the board of directors at the shelter.
She remained in the Ursuline community for 20 years, and left the order to pursue her Doctorate of Psychology Degree (Psy. D) from the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology.  Her career in the psychology field spanned nearly 30 years, and she worked with all age groups in both individual and group therapy.  She conducted psychological testing, parenting assessments, hospital emergency room services, mental health screenings of County Jail inmates, tested police candidates, worked as an outpatient therapist, and was an approved sex offender treatment provider.  Alice had always wanted to work in a hospital as she had done when she was a pre-doctoral intern and was delighted to join the team at Western Mental Health Institute in Bolivar, TN where she most recently held the position of Senior Psychological Examiner and START NOW facilitator.  She truly enjoyed her work and greatly admired her colleagues.
At her core, Alice was a healer, a comforter, a humanitarian, a mentor, and a friend.  She was a compassionate patient advocate who consistently encouraged change and advancement for her patients.  Her tenacity, determination, drive, and empathy made her an excellent therapist who passionately sought better opportunities for all those in her care.  She had an unwavering desire to help others. 
She loved reading, traveling, cross-stitching, gathering with her friends and family, and was enthusiastic about researching her family history.  Together with her niece, Alice compiled an extensive family tree.  which lead to several lasting friendships with new cousins in the US and New Zealand.  She knew so much about and honored each of her ancestors that there is no doubt they were all waiting to welcome her home. 
She is survived by her faithful canine companion, Bob Barker,  brothers Phillip (Eleonor) Greaves of Davao City, Philippines, and John Fred (Lynda) Greaves of Griffin, GA,  sister Mary (Edward) Miltenberger, of Newburgh, IN, nieces and nephews, Jennifer Shafei and Aimee (late Tony) Cabral of New Port Richey, FL, Corey (Gina) Greaves of Toppenish, WA, Edward C. Miltenberger, Michigan City, Colleen Miltenberger, Kendra (late Erik) Herbert, and Ashlee Greaves of La Porte, IN,  and Terry LaVoie, Brandon (Nicole) LaVoie, and Laurie Watkins of the Atlanta area, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, and nieces Patricia  Baughman and Kimberly Franklin. 
Alice’s bright spirit will be dearly missed by her family, her wide circle of friends, and her colleagues.  She will be remembered for her dedication to serving others, her creativity, kindness, thoughtfulness, cheerful disposition, honesty, her knack for making people smile and feel appreciated, and the ability to brighten the mood with her quick wit and humor.
A celebration of her life will be planned by her family at a later date, and she will be interred alongside her Mother at Chesterton Cemetery in Chesterton, IN.   Arrangements are being handled by the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, IN 46360.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cumberland Valley Domestic Violence Services online at cvdvs.org  or by mail to:  3100 Hwy 30 Bypass, London, KY 40741

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