Louisa Daniels

Louisa May Alcott Daniels

b. January 8, 1925 d. April 28, 2025

Louisa was child number nine of eleven born to Elmer and Nellie (Avery) Alcott. Nellie was an avid reader and decided that this baby girl would be named after a favorite author. This began Louisa’s life-long interest in the author and a shared love for reading.
She grew up during the Depression, but her hard-working parents ensured their children ate well by growing a large garden and canning vegetables for the winter. They lived in a small home with girls in one bedroom and boys in the other. She and her sister, Camilla, were best friends and along with their younger brother, Reggie, had many adventures together.

Louisa met her future husband, John (Johnny) Daniels when he delivered sandwiches to her workplace. Louisa was a shy, practical girl of 16 and when Johnny exclaimed “Wow! Are there more like you at home?” she was not impressed. Johnny was smitten and persistent, even getting a job at the laundry where she worked, and they fell in love. They married the next year, June 21, 1942 when she was 17 and he was 21.

Soon after their wedding, Johnny enlisted in the Navy. WWII was underway. Louisa traveled with other WWII wives to visit him when he was away at boot camp and later training to be a diesel mechanic. Mom yearned for a home and family. When Johnny came home from the war, they purchased their first home and soon after welcomed twin boys – Barry John and Bruce Warren. Chris Gordon was born 3 years later and just when they thought they were done, Andrea Alcott (their favorite daughter), was born 15 years after Chris.

Louisa and Johnny loved to go for drives and take road trips. They took trips to Florida, Washington D.C. during the cherry blossom festival, California to visit Camilla and Pete numerous times and around New England. They worked hard and knew how to travel cheaply. Louisa would get out the portable cook stove at each meal and cook up food. We stopped at many Stuckey’s and always stayed in motels (no hotels for them!).
In 1973, Johnny suffered a disabling stroke that left him fully paralyzed on the left side of his body. This pushed Louisa into a head of household role that she reluctantly embraced. She continued to devote herself to caring for Johnny and raising Andrea, who was only 8 years old. In 1975, she and Johnny made the decision to move the three of them to California to be close to Camilla and Pete. This was another epic adventure that included a U-Haul truck (Adventures in Moving) with a failing transmission and an Oldsmobile riddled with rust from too many Maine winters.

Louisa and Johnny loved California and she really came into her own. She got a job at a pre-school and became the much-loved Miss Louisa. She ran the art room and made lots of homemade play dough. “Criers” usually spent their first days with Miss Louisa. She was a kind, nurturing woman who made them feel safe and comforted. After retiring from the pre-school, she spent several years as a nanny. She loved the little boy she cared for, and she continued to keep in touch with him and his mom for the rest of her life. She made many lasting friendships during that time through the pre-school and the Hayward United Church of Christ.

Louisa loved color, decorating and dreaming about the future. She enjoyed movies, especially those that were offbeat. At the age of 79, she told her grandson, Townshend that they were going to see Napoleon Dynamite. None of us had heard of it. They both loved it and it has always been a favorite. She also loved the Simpsons and watched the complete Breaking Bad series with her son Barry. She was an accomplished craftswoman – she made braided rugs, caned chairs, re-covered many a sofa, knit many pairs of mittens and hats for her children and grandchildren, wrote poems, sketched, made clothes and quilts, learned to make baskets and was an excellent baker and cook.
Louisa loved animals and was always looking out for their best interests. “Has he gone out? Do they have water? Oh, poor Murphy want’s something.” They felt her love and she had a cat curled up at her feet for most of her last few days.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and family. She is survived by her 4 children, 2 daughters-in-law, a devoted son-in-law, 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She has gone to a peaceful place joining her beloved husband, Johhny, who died in 2003 and her sister Camilla who passed in 2024.

Beacon Hospice played a significant role in her peaceful passing. Louisa’s family will be forever grateful for the love and care they gave. She was at home until she passed surrounded by family. Special thanks to the care givers who will be forever friends – Jenni, Jessica, Heather, Kelly, Mike, Brett and Tracy.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 21, 11am at TJ and Andrea’s home. All are welcome. Let’s dress in cheerful colors and share memories of her life well lived.