Alberta M. Barrows

Alberta M. Barrows Sept. 19, 1916 - Nov. 4, 2010 Resident of San Leandro Alberta M. Barrows died peacefully on November 4, 2010 surrounded by her family, after a brief stay in San Leandro Hospital. She was raised on a farm in Highland Heights (Cleveland) Ohio, where she helped her mother and father-Lillian and Albert Marous-raise her six younger siblings. After graduating from high school, she worked for three years at the General Electric plant in Cleveland. It was there that she won the heart of her future husband, Howard H. Barrows, Jr., through the lunches she prepared and shared with him. Following their marriage in 1940, the couple made their home in his birthplace-Oakland. They lived many years in Sheffield Village, where they raised two daughters-Marian and Kathleen, before moving to San Leandro. Many others, both during her daughters' college years and later in life, considered her a second mother. Following Howard's death in 1979, Alberta traveled the world, including visits to Europe, the Caribbean and Brazil. The high point of her many trips was touching the hand of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. Alberta was a woman of great resilience and strong faith. She was one of the original parishioners of the Church of the Assumption, where she worked on behalf of the school and later was active in the Widows' Club and Catholic Daughters. She enjoyed hosting parties for her large circle of friends and neighbors, and was an avid bridge player, a game she played until shortly before her death. She always said she inherited her mother's "green thumb" and took great pride in her roses. She is survived by her daughters, Marian and Kathleen, and three siblings, Eugene Marous, Dorothy Stettenfeld, and Arlene Koenig, as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. During the last three years of her life at home, she was also surrounded by the love and compassion of many caregivers. The family thanks them all, especially Mele, Junne, Connie, and Nelia. Services are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 2, at 10 A.M. at the Church of the Assumption in San Leandro.