Obituary of "Alice" Helen Boyland
Helen Alice Boyland, 91, of Piscataway, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2023 with family by her side.
Born on September 10, 1931 to Henry & Helen Gillen, Alice was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She met her husband, Bill, through her brother Harry—she saw a photo of him and knew she had to meet him. They got engaged shortly before Bill was drafted into the Korean War. After waiting 9 months for his safe return, they got married on July 5, 1952. They adopted 2 children, Stephen and Geralyn. By the mid-80s, Alice and Bill moved to Staten Island, NY, where they resided until 1996, and then relocated to Piscataway, NJ.
Alice loved bowling, shopping, and going to breakfast at her favorite diner. A music lover, she was always a huge Frank Sinatra fan, and she loved watching any type of music competition, whether shows like The Voice, or marching band/drum corps competitions.
Very sweet and a little sassy, she had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. An incredibly thoughtful and generous person, she was always thinking of others. Alice was kind-hearted, humble, and graciously tough. Alice was a social butterfly who could make friends anywhere she went, and she loved a good get-together! She was always on the move, whether working or enjoying herself, she loved to keep busy.
Alice was involved with drum & bugle corps her entire life. Along with her husband Bill and brother Harry, they established the Blue Angels drum and bugle corps in their parish, Our Lady of Angels, in Brooklyn from 1967-1975. Alice continued to go to drum corps reunions and sang with the Skyliners Alumni Chorus.
Alice started working as a secretary in Manhattan at the age of 15. She spent many years working for Our Lady of Angels Church in Brooklyn, and ultimately retired from the Piscataway Board of Education in 2013 at the age of 81, only to go right back out to volunteer. Alice loved spending time volunteering with the schools’ “Reading Buddies” program. A faithful parishioner of St. Frances Cabrini RC Church in Piscataway, Alice served as one of the church’s weekly collection counters.
Alice is predeceased by her husband, William Boyland; son, Stephen Boyland; siblings, Geraldine Dowiak and Harry Gillen, and son-in-law Bruce Colvil.
Surviving is her daughter, Geralyn Colvil; grandchildren, Stephanie Pieper & husband Daniel, Robert Colvil, and Conor, Caroline, Kyle, and Veronica Boyland; beloved niece Barbara Dowiak and nephews John Dowiak, Alan Dowiak & his wife Judy, and Jim Dowiak & his wife Sharon, many grandnephews & nieces, extended family, and friends.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 8, 2024 from 4-8pm in the Piscataway Funeral Home 18 Stelton Rd. Piscataway, NJ 08854.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2024 beginning at 8:30am in the funeral home, followed by a 9:30am funeral mass at St. Frances Cabrini RC Church, Piscataway.
Entombment will follow at Resurrection Burial Park, Piscataway.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Alice’s honor to Friends of Music Therapy or to St. Frances Cabrini Church in Piscataway.