Francia Adelaide Albrecht

1918 - 2014

Francia Adelaide Albrecht

Francia Adelaide Albrecht, born December 4, 1918, passed away peacefully in her sleep after a short illness on March 15, 2014.

Francia was born in Akron, Ohio, to Clarence and Aubrey Watters Holliday. She grew up in a "lyrical household" with a mother who taught Russian dance to Akron children for 40 years.

Francia first stepped onstage at 16 months in one of her mother's shows at the Akron Armory. As a young girl, she accompanied her mother and older sister, Betty Holliday King (deceased) to NYC to study ballet. These formative experiences developed in Francia a passion for dance, music, and theater that would last a lifetime.

Francia married her beloved husband of 66 years, Frederick Ivan Albrecht, in 1941, while he was serving in the United States Army. They delighted in raising a family of six children while Fred ran the F.W. Albrecht Grocery Company (Acme Fresh Markets).

For over 25 years, Francia and Fred hosted sumptuous parties at their home for the Acme-Zip football openers held every fall at the Akron Rubber Bowl. Fred called Francia "Encyc" for her encyclopedic knowledge of people and places. Over the years, Francia filled her home with art and furniture acquired during their world travels. During their later years, they enjoyed entertaining friends at their winter home at John's Island, Fla.

Francia was a founding member of The Women's Board of Ohio Ballet, served on the Board of Trustees from 1983 to 1987, and received the BRAVO award in 1988. She also served on the Board of Trustees for Weathervane Community Playhouse and the Akron Art Museum. She was a long time member of the St. Cecilia Choral Society and was a past president of United Way Women for which she received the coveted Ray Jeter Award. As a devoted friend and patron to the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet, she provided scholarships for aspiring young dancers. In 1982 she received the University of Akron Honorary Alumna Award for outstanding achievement and dedicated service. She was very proud to have established a lasting legacy through the Francia Holliday Albrecht Dance Performance Studio at the University of Akron. Her devotion to the arts and the Akron community culminated in receiving, together with her husband, Fred, the Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award in 1988. In 2007 she was honored with the Akron Area Arts Alliance Lifetime Achievement Award.

Francia was preceded in death by her husband, Fred I. Albrecht; and her daughter, Heather. She is survived by her five children, Ivan, Gwyneth (Sam) Stites, Steve (Sophie), Tatiana (Richard) Harris, and Monica (Douglas) Kridler; 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The family extends their deep gratitude to Felicia Oana for her great kindness and loving care for the past six years. The family also extends their gratitude to the staff at Rockynol Retirement Community.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 20 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1361 West Market St., Akron with Rev. Amjad Samuel officiating. Private entombment will be at Rose Hill Burial Park. Friends may call 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., Akron. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Weathervane Community Playhouse, the University of Akron School of Dance and the F.W. Albrecht Family Foundation (P.O. Box 1910, Akron, OH 44305).

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