Alyce Elizabeth Bourgeois Niccum

Alyce Elizabeth Bourgeois Niccum died on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021 at the age of 97 years. She enjoyed her family, her dog Gizzie, embroidering, exercise, and being busy. She liked music, dancing, watching movies, going out to eat, snacks & candy, and a glass of wine. She enjoyed traveling to new places, yet mostly enjoyed going to see family in Effingham, IL. She worked as a nurse’s aide in Beech Grove, IN and Indianapolis for many years. Her work life started as a waitress in Effingham while in her teens and her last job was as a waitress for a caterer in Greenwood, IN while in her 70s. She was born and raised in Effingham, IL on a farm. She lived with her parents, Lena and Leo Bourgeois, and three brothers (Jim, George, and Ralph) and five sisters (Marie, Betty, Ruth, Norma, and Dorothy). After she married Arthur Wayne Niccum, they lived in Peoria, IL for a short time. They moved back to Effingham IL where her first three children were born – Daniel Lee, Linda Lou., and Martha Ann. When her husband was employed at Western Electric in Indianapolis, they moved to Beech Grove, IN while Alyce was pregnant with her fourth child, Kathleen Jean. Alyce was a long-time member of the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Beech Grove. Later in her life she lived in Indianapolis and Pittsboro, IN and was a member of the Holy Spirit at Geist Catholic Church. The last two years of her life she lived in Winter Springs FL where her granddaughter and two of her daughters moved. Although she liked the warm weather, she missed her Effingham family and her friends back in Indianapolis, especially Jon Parker and Barb Bowser. The last eight months of her life she lived in Memoirs Assisted Living Facility in Winter Park, FL where she enjoyed the staff and other residents at the small homelike facility. She is known for saying “Age is just a number” and was proud to enjoy all her birthdays. She also said, “Our days are numbered from the time we are born, and only the good Lord knows when that will be.” She is survived by her three daughters, her son’s wife, Sharon Miller Niccum Oelgoetz, numerous grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, Ralph, a sister, Dorothy Niebrugge, a sister-in-law, Anne Spence Bourgeois, and many nieces and nephews in the Effingham, IL area. No service is planned at this time. The family invites you to leave a memory on the Tribute Wall created in her memory.

Alyce Elizabeth Bourgeois Niccum

September 4, 1923 - March 23, 2021