Alice Larranaga

Alice Catherine Larranaga (Herrmann), age 86, of Wayne, passed away peacefully at her home, in the presence of her loving family, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

Alice was the firstborn of Eugene and Irene (Muckenhoupt) Herrmann’s three children. She was born in New York City and raised in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx.

Alice was a graduate of St. Helena’s High School in the Bronx and Hunter College in Manhattan, where she earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in mathematics. She married shortly after graduating from college and had three children, embracing her life as a mother and homemaker. 

In 1966, the Larranaga family moved to Wayne, NJ and purchased their home at 12 Cathy Ann Court.  Alice worked for the Township of Wayne in the personnel department, retiring after 30 years of service at age sixty-two. In 1985, she moved to her present home in the Lion’s Head Lake section of Wayne. She remained there for the rest of her life and, to her, it was truly “Home-Sweet-Home.”

Alice was gifted by God with a creative spirit and found many outlets for expression throughout her life. As a teenager, she was active in high school theater productions; as the mother of three children at Our Lady of the Valley Grammar School, Alice was active in the OLV Church music ministry and often led Masses as a solo singer accompanied by her guitar. Other musical outlets she cherished were her roles with the Stuart Smith Singers, performing in large productions twice each year and her role in an educational program called the Sweet Inspiration Vocal Trio. The group put on educational performances at schools and shopping malls. In retirement, she continued to develop her musical talents, learning to play the piano and enjoying bringing her guitar to her grandchildren’s schools to entertain the children.

When she was not performing, Alice loved spending time in bookstores and visiting the Wayne Public Library. She enjoyed losing herself in a good story and she made it a practice to donate her books once finished so others could experience them as well.

And then there were the art classes – an opportunity she seized upon in retirement to enrich her life and keep her mind sharp. Drawn to fresh air and sunshine, Alice especially enjoyed painting landscapes primarily utilizing oil-based acrylics as her medium of choice. She cherished fond memories of summers as a child with her mom, dad, and brothers at Squam Lake in New Hampshire and, as an adult, with family and friends at the Jersey Shore. Retirement also allowed more opportunities to gather with friends for lunch or dinner - something Alice relished, as it combined her love of exploring new foods with enjoying the company of those she held dear.

Above all, Alice treasured time spent with her family. She was a loving and devoted grandmother to her seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  Summer visits to “Camp Grandma” and bathtime are cherished memories for all the grandchildren. And back-yard gatherings at Bill & Joan’s house brought the entire family together, including extended family and friends.

Alice embodied the qualities that make a person a true blessing in the lives of others. Never one to complain, she was loving, caring, and selfless. Patient yet direct, you always knew where you stood with her—and it was usually in a good place. Her creativity sustained her through life’s challenges and inspired those around her to see the good in the world.

Alice was the loving mother of William Larranaga and his wife Joan of Wayne; Catherine Thiel of Marlton, NJ, and her late husband Frank (2024); Thomas Larranaga of Verona; and her daughter-in-law, Amy Bergen Larranaga of Park City, Utah. She was the cherished grandmother of John and his wife Tameka; Thomas and his partner, Luisanna; Colleen, Brian, Jason, Michael, and Jennifer; and the adoring great-grandmother of Arya, Grayson, and Jaylen. She was the dearest sister of Thomas Herrmann of Citrus Heights, CA, and Reverend Francis Herrmann of Chestnut Hill, MA, and a dear aunt to many nieces and nephews.

‍

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Alice’s name are asked to consider a donation to:

‍

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959

Please indicate that your gift is in memory of Alice C. Larranaga.

‍

For those of you who are unable to attend the mass services on Tuesday, please click on the link below to watch the livestream service.  

https://ecatholic.live/I6y40566uVswWhCySGEuIssgRFMVtQHE/channels/1/event/1492/public/view?signature=4f25c00f705c6ad835f10a143887cde160e4937d33d45c88982157d7761d6e6b.