Alice Elizabeth Vollender (nee Meliti) 84, died February 27th, 2025 in Hackettstown Medical Center. Born in Hackensack, New Jersey on December 4th, 1940 to the late Frank and Mary Meliti (nee LaBarbera) on her mother’s birthday.

She was the youngest of 8 children and was raised in Little Ferry, New Jersey and attended Ridgefield Park High School. She was predeceased by her loving husband Robert F. Vollender; and is survived by her son, Angelo Benincasa (wife Dawn) of Frelinghuysen; daughter Alicyn Link (husband John) of Hardwick; 4 grandchildren Bianca,(Fiancee Hank) Nicholas, and Anthony Benincasa and Joshua Senyszyn; 1 great-grandson Joseph Stadelman; and her sister Elena Realmonte of Towaco, New Jersey. Out of high school, she started working as a waitress at a luncheonette in Hackensack and during this time she got married and started her family. She became a Christian and joined the Hackensack Seventh-day Adventist church where she taught Kindergarten Sabbath-school classes, as well as cradle roll classes for over 20 years. She was also the Home and School Leader at the Waldwick SDA School, and organized many fund raisers to help supplement the running of the school, and additionally drove the bus to pick up many children in the neighborhood to attend.

During this time, she met and married her beloved husband of 35 years Robert F. Vollender. They were married in the Hackensack SDA church on November 14th, 1976 and were together until his passing in 2011. In 1984, they built their dream home in Frelinghuysen, New Jersey, where she stayed for 36 years before moving in with her daughter to Hardwick, New Jersey. Moving to Warren County, she was employed at BLD’s restaurant for 25 years and served many locals with meals. Her friends and coworkers gave her the nickname “Alice the Red Head.” During this time, she continued her teaching of the children at Hackettstown SDA church and also served as a deaconess. A mother to everyone, she always greeted anyone she crossed paths with a radiant smile and a kind word. Well known for her delicious cooking and decadent pies, anyone who tasted her food could truly taste the love she put into each bite. After her retirement, she helped raise her 4 grandchildren, who were the joy of her life.

Visitation: Friday, March 7th, 2025 at 2 pm-4 pm & 7 pm-9 pm Location: Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High St., Hackettstown NJ, 07840 Services: Saturday, March 8th, 2025 at 11 am Location: Stanhope United Methodist Church, 2 NJ-183, Netcong NJ, 07857,     Interment: To Follow Services Location: Johnsonburg Methodist Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown NJ 07840.  Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.cochranfuneral.com/