[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING MARY ALICE ECKSTROM FOR HER DEVOTION TO HELPING OTHERS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2010

  Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to 
praise and reflect upon the life and career of an outstanding community 
leader and dear friend, Mary Alice Eckstrom.
  Mary Alice Eckstrom was born in Tucson, Arizona on October 29, 1946. 
Throughout her lifetime she always made herself available to help 
others, especially the less fortunate. She did all of this very 
quietly, never seeking personal praise or recognition. It was her 
abiding faith in God, her devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and her 
dedication to St. Therese the Little Flower, which enabled her to 
effectively serve others.
  Alice selflessly gave her time, talents, and resources to the 
community. She served for 20 years, including seven terms as President, 
with the League of Mexican American Women, which provided $2 million in 
postsecondary educational scholarships. She served the Diocese of 
Tucson for ten years, at St. Ambrose School, also serving on the School 
Board. She served on the Board of Catholic Community Services of 
Southern Arizona, and as a volunteer for the Pio Decimo Center. In 
February 2010, LULAC and the NAACP honored her with the Rosa Parks 
Lifetime Community Advocacy Award.
  Within her family, Alice was the solid foundation from which her two 
children acquired and developed their individual knowledge, skills and 
talents. She was the main driving force in making sure that each of 
them were carefully nurtured and trained to become sustaining and 
contributing community members. She always provided a special guiding 
hand focusing on how to live proper and acceptable lives. To her 
children and all that knew her, Alice was an exceptional mother, 
teacher, mentor, confidant, and friend.
  For more than a year, Alice waged a valiant battle to overcome 
Lymphoma. Fighting cancer was nothing new to her, which she had done in 
1985, when stricken with Breast Cancer. [After a year of chemotherapy 
and radiation, her cancer was in remission for 23 years and she lived 
every day of her life to the fullest.] In October 2008, to celebrate 
another annual survival milestone, she led a grassroots fundraising 
effort in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, by 
successfully raising $2,500 in $5 contributions. One month later, after 
a routine chest x-ray, she was diagnosed with Lymphoma. She received 
chemotherapy treatments for more than a year and underwent a bone 
marrow transplant. During each of these aggressive medical treatments, 
she never complained, but was always sustained by her strong faith. She 
possessed an amazing spirit of survival, and always maintained an ever-
present and radiant smile. She was hospitalized for several weeks 
before Christmas, but this did not prevent her from helping others. As 
she had done for 37 years, Alice helped raise needed funds so that 
6,000 disadvantaged children could receive a new toy at Christmas.
  On March 29, 2010, surrounded by her loving family, Alice left our 
earthly presence to begin her promised journey of eternal life. On 
``Holy Thursday,'' Rites of a Christian Burial were celebrated at Saint 
Augustine Cathedral. Her celebration of life was attended by more than 
1,200 mourners, and it was led by the most Reverend Gerald F. Kicanas, 
Bishop of Tucson, Father James Hobert, Father Patrick Crino and Deacon 
Oscar Bueno. She was eulogized by her daughter Jennifer and son Daniel, 
who shared many lifetime memories and remembrances. A special honor 
guard and escort were provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Department 
and the South Tucson Police Department led the funeral procession to 
Holy Hope Cemetery, her final resting place.
  Alice is survived by Dan Eckstrom, her husband of more than 37 years, 
a retired Chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors and Mayor of 
the City of South Tucson; her devoted children-daughter Jennifer 
Eckstrom, who serves as Mayor of the City of South Tucson and son 
Daniel William Eckstrom II, a Staff Assistant for U.S. Congressman Ed 
Pastor. She is also survived by her mother Felicita Rosales, her 
sisters Jenny and Grace; and her brothers Rudy, Robert, Julian and 
Louis. She is predeceased by her father Louis Rosales, her sister Anita 
Rosales and her beloved niece, Melissa Dian Gomez.
  In keeping with her commitment to serving the less fortunate portion 
of our population, Alice's family, friends and supporters are 
continuing her legacy by establishing a memorial fund that will provide 
scholarships for deserving students attending Pima Community College-
Desert Vista Campus.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the leadership of Mary Alice 
Eckstrom and the friendship she has given me and my family.

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