Marcella "Marcie" Alba

1932 - 2020

Marcella "Marcie" Alba lived a very full 88 years and touched the hearts of those she met along the way. She was born March 21, 1932 in the Panama Canal Zone and enjoyed her younger years in a tropical paradise. Since very young Marcie started swimming and doing underwater acrobatics. She returned to the United States at the age of eight on an evacuation convoy at the start of WWII, while her parents remained working in Panama. Marcie lived a few years in Long Island with her aunt, uncle and cousin before reuniting with her parents in New Orleans. At sixteen she met the love of her life, Richard "Dick" Alba. Marcie was on the swim team at the Audubon Park pool and Dick was the head lifeguard. Marcie converted to Catholicism and married Dick and they were married for 51 years. They continued their aquatic desires and became scuba pioneers in the Gulf of Mexico. They set many deep-sea diving records, including Marcie's deepest dive record for women, and won numerous spear fishing tournaments. For many years they owned a commercial diving company. Marcie had a very inquisitive mind and was an avid reader and history buff. She loved to travel to new places, played the piano and violin and enjoyed bowling. She was an expert conversationalist and quickly engaged everyone with stories of her family, travels and love of music, art and history. Marcie died on May 14, 2020 and will be greatly missed, but her faith has assured her the greatest blessing possible. Marcie was preceded in death by Bertie Humes Carpenter, Mother; Charles Sexton Humes, Father; Richard "Dick" O. Alba, Sr., Husband; Alexander I. Alba, Great Grandson; Richard A. Alba, Grandson and Michele A. Sweigard, Daughter. She is survived by her children Renee Alba Jezek (Alan); Richard "Rick" Alba, Jr. (Joelina) and Nannette Alba Ringham (Lawrence). And her grandchildren Alan F. Jezek, Jr. (Paige), Krista L. Jezek, Vanessa A. Makinson-Sanders (Clive), Dustin R. Sweigard, Igor V. Alba, Marcella V. Alba and Kayron V. Alba. And her great grandchildren Ethan Jezek, Devon Jezek, Preston Jezek, Taylor Huston, Ebin Huston, Evelyn Makinson-Sanders and Aliyah Sweigard. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church in Mandeville, LA. Due to the current extenuating circumstances, we ask that those who wish to express their condolences or share fond memories do so at www.lakelawnmetairiefuneralhome.com. A public memorial service will be announced at a later date. The family is grateful for your understanding and compassion in this trying time.