Alice Berdean (Hartey) Traub

Alice Berdean (Hartey) Traub, 103, was born in Sheffield, Iowa on Tuesday, June 24, 1919 and grew up in nearby Mason City, Iowa, surviving The Great Depression eating pheasants her father had shot to feed the family. The first car she drove was a Model T-Ford. After high school, she had many secretarial jobs in the various places she moved to. Ultimately, she married the love of her life, prominent Albuquerque attorney, Ben T. Traub. Theirs was a great love affair, having met in high school while competing in shorthand class. They were married in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, November 21, 1942 in the midst of Ben moving to various military assignments during World War II. Shortly after delivering her first child, Anita, in April 1946, Alice contracted tuberculosis and was confined to bed rest for almost two years at the Glen Lake Sanitarium in Minnesota while Ben started law school in Minneapolis, visiting her on weekends. Upon discharge from the sanitarium, they were advised to move to a dry climate for Alice's health. Consequently, they moved to Albuquerque where Ben completed law school at the University of New Mexico, graduating in the very first class in 1950. The next three decades were all about raising kids, boy, girl, boy, girl and boy. Along with raising 6 kids, Alice was engaged in many activities, including: B'Nai B'Rith women, bowling leagues, learning to ski in her 50's, and was president of Hadassah for a time. Alice was well liked by everyone and never once spoke an unkind word. In the early 70's, she was intrigued with the idea of going to a senior citizen center once she turned 55 but, not surprisingly, she was so busy that she never got there. After Ben's untimely death in 1985, Alice remained forever active, touring Europe by train with her granddaughters, sailing the Caribbean with the family, and seeing the likes of Neil Diamond and Van Morrison on New Years' Eve in Las Vegas in her 80's. She was an excellent cook and her knishes were beyond compare. Alice was very well read and in her later years enjoyed playing card games with her granddaughters. Most of all, Alice enjoyed family dinners every weekend right up to the end.
Alice was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 42 years, Ben; his first son David E. Traub; and her sister Marlyn Odeneal. She is survived by her three daughters: Anita Traub, J.D. of Denver, Colorado, Rosemary Traub, J.D., and Paula Traub of Placitas, New Mexico; and her three sons, Dr. Steven J. Traub, Dr. Daniel J. Traub and spouse Deborah of South Portland, Maine, and Joseph B. Traub. Alice had 21 grand children, 22 great- grand children and 9 great-great-grand children. She leaves behind a wealth of relatives, neighbors and close friends. She passed away just 2 weeks shy of her 104th birthday party, always a joyous affair.
Her Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023, 12:30 p.m. with a Visitation at 11:30 a.m. at FRENCH-Wyoming with interment to follow at B'Nai Israel Cemetery at Fairview Memorial Park here in Albuquerque. A special word of thanks is due to High Desert Hospice and Joe Traub for their care and concern in Alice's final days.