Alice Mae Schwaninger

Alice Mae Schwaninger, of Trappe, passed away peacefully at her home on March 30, 2026, at the age of 94, just one month shy of her 95th birthday, surrounded by her loved ones. Born in Easton on May 1, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Thomas H. Marvel, Sr., and Emily Mullikin Marvel. She graduated from Idlewild High School in 1948. In 1955, she married the late W. Irvin “Doc” Schwaninger, with whom she shared 55 years of marriage before his passing in 2011. First and foremost, Alice Mae loved the Lord and was raised in a God-fearing family whose strong foundation of faith shaped her lifelong devotion to God. Church played a central role in her life, and she had a true servant’s heart, always willing to help others wherever there was a need. Alice Mae was a woman of many talents who truly did it all. She devoted herself to raising her family while also gardening, making candy, baking and selling her cakes, and knitting, crocheting, and sewing. Gardening was especially close to her heart and was a cherished part of her everyday life on the Eastern Shore. From early spring planting to the last blooms of fall, she found peace working the soil and watching things grow. Her yard was filled with flowers, and her gardens were always carefully tended, filled with vegetables nurtured by her steady hands. No matter how hot it was outside, Alice Mae would wrestle with her rotary tiller like it was nothing, maneuvering the powerful machine with ease and determination to get her garden in perfect shape. Watching her at work, it was clear that nothing—heat, dirt, or heavy machinery—could slow her down. She took pride in sharing fresh produce with family, friends, and neighbors, believing that nothing brought people together quite like something grown with love. Her gardens were not only beautiful but welcoming places where many memories were made, and they stood as a testament to her patience, dedication, and love of God’s creation. She loved being creative through sewing, knitting, and crocheting, skills she practiced her whole life. Using her sewing and knitting machines, she made clothes for family and crafted cozy blankets, scarves, and garments. She especially enjoyed making outfits for her doll collection, putting care and attention into every stitch. Her hands were always busy, and everything she made showed her devotion and talent. Every stitch reflected her care, creativity, and the joy she found in making something by hand for others to cherish. The holidays were made even more special through her love of candy making, a tradition eagerly anticipated by family and friends each year. At Easter and Christmas, her kitchen became a place of warmth and activity as she prepared homemade treats that were shared with those she loved. She was also widely known for her delicious and beautifully decorated cakes, which she baked and sold for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and countless other special occasions. Each cake reflected her creativity, attention to detail, and desire to help others celebrate life’s meaningful moments. For more than sixty years, cake baking was not simply a pastime but an integral part of her life and a lasting gift she shared with her community. She had the rare joy of creating cakes for multiple generations of the same families — first for weddings, then anniversaries, and later for the children and grandchildren who grew up celebrating with her creations. Her cakes became woven into family traditions, marking milestones across decades. Alice Mae personally delivered and carefully assembled her multi-tiered cakes herself, ensuring every detail was just right before a celebration began. For many in the community, a special event simply was not complete without one of Alice Mae’s cakes. Her kitchen was always open, and no one ever left her home without something sweet and a feeling of being cared for. Time spent in her kitchen, craft room, or garden was never considered work to her — it was joy, routine, and a reflection of the life she built, rooted in faith, family, and the land. She drove a school bus (Bus #12) for Talbot County and also drove a church bus for the Church of God. She worked alongside her father and husband on the farm, driving tractors and trucks with confidence and pride. For more than 20 years, she served as President of the Volunteer Auxiliary at the House in the Pines, often welcoming residents into her home for home-cooked meals. She later opened a Bed & Breakfast in her home, where she formed many lasting friendships with guests from near and far. Hard work defined her life — she continued cutting grass on her Cub tractor until the age of 90. Idleness simply was not part of who she was. A woman of routine, she faithfully rose at 6:00 a.m. each morning until her passing, enjoying a Nutty Buddy every morning and a popsicle each night before bed — small traditions that brought her joy. Alice Mae was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose greatest happiness came from spending time with her family. She will be remembered for her unwavering faith, strong work ethic, and generous spirit, as well as her unmistakable spunk — a spirited, determined, and strong-willed woman whose grit, fierce independence, and signature sass left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her. She is survived by her daughter, Kay Daffin (John) of Queen Anne; her son, Walt Schwaninger, Jr. (Judy) of Trappe; and her grandchildren, Rachel Coursey (Chase), Becky Mitchell (Trevor), Lauren Daffin, Lisa Cunningham (Ben) and a special granddaughter, Sarah Lewis (Joe), whom she loved as her own. She is also survived by her five great-grandchildren, J. Deale Coursey, Wyatt Coursey, Alayna Mitchell, Landon Mitchell, and James Lewis, along with several cherished nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and her husband, “Doc,” she was preceded in death by her brothers, Thomas Marvel, Jr., and John Marvel. Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Funeral services will begin at noon at the funeral home. Interment at Landing Neck Cemetery will be held privately for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601. Like the gardens she faithfully tended, her love and legacy will continue to grow in the lives of those she nurtured.

Alice Mae Schwaninger

May 1, 1931 - March 30, 2026