Alberta F. Melcher

On March 28th after 85 years on this earth, Alberta passed away gently and peacefully surrounded by loved ones at her bedside and many more in spirit from far away.  She left this earth to be with her husband Bill, her many departed relatives and her Creator. She looks down on us today wishing she could ease our pain and hold us in her arms to comfort us as she did so many times in her life.  She leaves behind a legacy of love which includes 5 children and 5 grandchildren, who brought her great joy. She was the proud daughter of parents who emigrated from Poland.  She valued her Catholic education and became a nurse which befitted her caring personality.  If times were different she likely would have been a doctor. She was married to Bill Melcher for nearly 50 years and left her nursing career to raise 5 children passing on to them her traits of charity, generosity, and selflessness.  She made sure all of her children were well loved and cared for, and well educated in the Catholic school system.   She was never concerned with getting her fair share or only contributing her fair share but rather doing more and giving more, a value she tried to instill in all of her children.  She was a nurse throughout her life, showing concern for the care and well-being of the hospice staff that cared for her.  In her last days, she never complained and rarely asked for anything, but cautioned them not to slip or fall on a wet spot.  As a young mother, when one child had open heart surgery she was there to help nurse him back to health.  When another was in a horrific car accident she was there to help him heal from his physical injuries.  She was concerned for the emotional needs of all of her children and did what she could to help them heal.  She dealt with her children’s broken bones and broken hearts wearing whatever hat was necessary to help them.    She gave her time as a volunteer to her children’s school.  She sent clothes to Poland for the poor and donated to numerous charities throughout her life.  Her only indulgence was her love of a bargain as she obtained much joy from collecting and surrounding herself with numerous tchotchkes, knickknacks, and treasures for only pennies a piece.  She loved the simple pleasures in life- a nice cup of hot tea with friends and family, listening to The Lawrence Welk show, or tapping a foot to a polka tune on the radio. She loved to feed the birds and would worry about them as she donned her coat to clear a path to food when it snowed. In her later years she loved to feed the horse across the street and play with her beloved dog, Hannah.    If she were here today she would ask why we are doing all of this for her, why don’t we just donate the money to charity? Her Children would respond, "because we love you, Mom, and want to bring together all of the people who love you, to celebrate your life and let your love shine upon us all, to transform our grief into joy as you are welcomed into heaven.”   In lieu of flowers please help remember Alberta’s life and values with a donation to Medical Mission Sisters 8400 Pine Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19111  (215) 742-6100   Relatives and Friends are invited to her viewing Wednesday 9:30 AM and her funeral Mass at 10:30 AM at St. Cecilia Church 535 Rhawn St. Philadelphia, PA 19111.  Her interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery