On Monday, May 31st, 2021, Josephine Albrecht (Mom) celebrated her 92nd birthday in Crete, surrounded by family. It was truly a joyous occasion and turned out to be her final chance to say, “hello . . . I love you . . and goodbye.” Mom passed quickly and quietly after her birthday. On Sunday morning, June 6, she went home to be with our Lord and Savior, and her husband, Lou. During her final days, her children took turns “standing watch” with her. Daughter Charlene was at her side when she quietly passed on.
Mom was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Her biological mother’s name was Helma. None of us, including Mom, ever met her. Mom’s future parents, Howard and Mildred Ainsworth, were standing by the day she was born and adopted her on the spot. All of us are very blessed that the Ainsworth family gave Mom a home and a future.
Mom grew up with her adopted brother, Dan, in Mason City, Illinois. Mildred and Howard were devoted parents. Old photos reveal lots of camping trips, pets, a pony and kids having fun. Mom was raised around lots of boys, and spoke of “roughhousing” that often had her “seeing stars.” She was a good girl, and only admitted to having her mouth washed out with soap one time by her mom.
Mom attended Rockford College from 1947-1951. She learned a cheer there that went, “Rickety rackety, rus, there’s nothing the matter with us.” Mom would spontaneously burst into this cheer and often embarrassed us kids. Mom met Dad (Louis Michael Albrecht) in the fall of 1951, and they were married Dec. 27, 1952, in Mason City, Illinois. They moved to Marin County, California, in June 1953, where Dad started a career with the YMCA.
Between 1953 and 1969, the Lou and Jo Albrecht family grew by four children: Mike, Dave, Sarah, and Charlene. Over the next decades, Mom and Dad moved back to Nebraska, then back to California, and finally back to full retirement in Crete.
Sixteen grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren were added to the clan. Many of Mom’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren (including a surprise troupe from California) gathered in Crete to celebrate her 90th birthday.
Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling with friends and family, finding treasures at yard sales, and playing bridge. They were members of the United Church of Christ in Crete, where Mom was active in the women’s fellowship and a group called the “Kitchen Kluster.” Daughter Sarah found a plate in Mom’s kitchen with this beautiful quote: “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”
Mom spent her final years at Tabitha the Gardens, playing bingo, reading, doing crossword puzzles and watching Jeopardy. Son Dave and his wife, Ruth, lived only a mile away and were frequent visitors. Mom requested not to have a memorial service. Instead, she wanted her family to get together in her name to celebrate our best memories of her and Dad.
Mom donated money to a missionary program to build a house in a remote Guatemalan village in memory of Lou. The family requests that any memorials be sent to the United Church of Christ in Crete for a house to be built in Mom’s name in the same village.
To all of us that knew and loved Mom, her parting words likely would have been, “Keep on keepin’ on!”
