Mom

On June 16, 1927, Margaret Mildred Albrecht was born to Tillie Heinlein Albrecht and Edwin Albrecht in Glidden Wisconsin. Margaret was the second daughter born to the couple. I called her Mom.
Margaret loved her children and taught them many lessons. Sewing was a must for the girls, as was embroidery and other needle work. Patience was needed as she taught them to perfect the tiny stitches or if using the old blue Montgomery Wards sewing machine, how to piece the pattern together to make a finished garment. She encouraged hobbies, playing outside, and of course, chores. From a young age we were taught to wash dishes but could occasionally get a reprieve from the task if we read  to her or practiced our weekly piano lesson. Saturday mornings when others were parked in front of the TV, we were busy straightening the house, cleaning our rooms, or the dreaded cleaning the bathroom. We learned the difference between a weed and garden vegetables, as we spent time in the large garden, working alongside her. End of the season found us together in the kitchen as we learned to slip skins from peaches and tomatoes in preparation for canning.  Mom shared and encouraged our dreams, giving us just enough responsibility to become successful in what we attempted. She was strict when it came to matters of faith, rarely allowing us to skip church or Sunday School.

In her professional life, Mom was a teacher. She taught Jr. High English and both my brother and I had the privilege to be in her class. In addition to learning an appreciation for literature, we learned to diagram sentences. If anything she graded Den and I harder because she was sure we could do better. She was fair in her classes, but that didn't always make her the most popular of teachers. If she assigned homework she expected it to be done.

She was opinionated and felt young girls looked better without all that makeup that everyone was so inclined to overdo. She ended her career, not teaching but being the Jr. High Librarian and would fight the school board to make sure her students had up to date research material.

In the early hours of November 8, 1985 Mom left this earth. The church was full as friends, colleagues, and former students came to pay their respects. You are still missed, Mom.