Prudence was born Feb. 26, 1894, the daughter of Joseph and Alice Thompson Cravens of Raywick, Ky. She entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph at the age of 21. Following a 15-month postulancy, Prudence received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Mary Alice on March 25, 1916.
When the next school year began in September, Sister Mary Alice was assigned to St. Peter Alcantara School at Stanley, Ky. Again assigned to teach the primary grades, Sister Mary Alice was missioned to Kentucky schools at Curdsville, Cloverport, Knottsville, Waverly, Flaherty, Louisville (St. Columba), Curdsville, Waverly, and Knottsville. In 1935, Sister was assigned to Jeffersonville, Ind., for one year. She came back to Kentucky and taught at Clementsville, Cloverport, and Mayfield. In 1942, she was off duty at Fairfield for five years, occasionally substituting in the classroom. She spent the following year at the Motherhouse. In 1948, she taught the first semester at Waverly.
Beginning in 1949, Sister resigned from teaching, spending time at the Motherhouse, Waverly, and Mayfield. She underwent surgery in October 1959. Following a long illness, death came to her on October 29, 1977. In the seven days immediately preceding her death, three other Mount Saint Joseph Ursulines had died. On October 31, Msgr. Bernard Powers, former chaplain, and Msgr. Edward Russell celebrated the funeral Mass. Sister Mary Alice’s remains are in the convent cemetery. Preceding her in death was her Ursuline sister, Sister Josetta Cravens.