Who is Aunt Alice from Our Only May Amelia and what is their importance?

Aunt Alice is the sister of May Amelia's mother. Aunt Alice lives in a nice house in Astoria, although she is not married. Aunt Alice explains to May Amelia that she is has a male friend who gives her money and provides the house for her. Aunt Alice is very feminine and May Amelia looks to her with questions of how a young lady should act, although May Amelia does not attempt to emulate her aunt. It is Aunt Alice who eventually makes May Amelia a proper dress, but May Amelia only wears the dress once and she nearly ruins it by spilling food on it.