Anne Alschuler Obituary

Anne Cockfield Alschuler, formerly of Aurora, IL, died in Chandler, AZ on 5/28/2025. Anne was born to Douglas W. and Ruth Fruland Cockfield in Aurora on August 31, 1933. She grew up in Aurora, attending West Side schools and graduating from West High School in 1951. In 1955, she received her BA degree from DePauw University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Later that year, she married Benjamin P. Alschuler in Aurora. Following Ben's naval service and legal studies, the couple returned to Aurora and made it their home for the next 40 years. While Ben practiced law, they both participated actively in the civic life of the community. Anne was especially involved in the Child Welfare Society and the Aurora YWCA. She served as a director of the Aurora Foundation (Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley) and was a longtime member of the New England Congregational Church. After Ben's death in 2001, Anne moved to Arizona to be near her family: son John (Dee) of Scottsdale, daughter Carolyn (Travis) Thurman, and grandson Ben Thurman of Chandler. She is also survived by a niece and 5 nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ben, and brother Bill Cockfield. In Arizona, Anne appreciated the diverse beauty of the state - notably, the desert wildflowers and the Ponderosa Pines of Payson, where she also maintained a home. She enjoyed playing golf with friends at the Aurora Country Club and belonged to nine hole leagues in Mesa and Payson. She participated in her annual Theta class letter for over 60 years and also valued her PEO friendships. Anne spent many happy summer vacations on the Cockfield family island in Rideau Lake in eastern Ontario. She was proud of her Norwegian Slooper heritage and was grateful for her Canadian experiences and connections. Her family hosted a Rotary Exchange Student, Ilse Lopez de Esquivel, from Mexico in 1988, and they have continued to have a warm relationship with her. She was devoted to her numerous dogs - the basset hounds, miniature schnauzers, and Sasha, the sweet little shih tzu, who survives. Interment will take place in Spring Lake Cemetery, Aurora at a later date. Memorials in her name can be directed to New England Congregational Church, 406 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL, 60506, or the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, 1971 W. Downer Pl., Aurora, IL, 60506.