Alberta Sabin Obituary
Alberta May Sabin of Chelsea, formerly of Springport, Sandusky, and Oscoda, age 97, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family, on Thursday, March 6 2025, at Glazier Commons of the Chelsea Retirement Community.
She was born Oct. 11, 1927, in Dickson Township, the daughter of James Vincenzo and Dorothy Lucile (Castner) Arquilla.
Alberta spent her youth living on the farm near Brethren. She later went to Central Michigan University for her Bachelor's (and eventually Master's) of Education, where she met her husband, Harold Sabin. Together they taught in Springport, Sandusky, and Oscoda Area Schools. In her 35 years as a public servant, Alberta taught home economics, science, third grade, and was a school counselor.
Alberta and Harold raised five children together and hosted 20 Youth For Understanding exchange students from around the globe. They both loved to travel to visit all of their children across the United States and Europe.
In retirement, Alberta devoted her time to her writing passion, publishing two books: Pietro, a book based on her father's childhood and immigration to the United States from Italy, and The Folks At Mountain Gap, a novel about a pastor ministering to a community affected by a coal mine collapse.
Quick to smile, Alberta was an infectious optimist and extrovert who relished every moment spent with family and friends. Whether it was interviewing new residents, organizing events, or inviting the stranger to chat, Alberta wanted everyone to feel included. She could be readily found beating her family in a game of Yahtzee, walking faster than the staff could catch up, admiring the birds and flowers, or researching for a new article for The Reporter, the campus newspaper.
Alberta, grounded in her faith as a lifelong Methodist, always felt more blessed to give than to receive, as evident by her charitable commitments to Alzheimer research, the United Methodist Church, the Lion's Club, and many other causes across her life. Even in death, she has donated her brain to the University of Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center to further the study of memory loss and aging.
She is survived by her daughters, Jeanne (Blane) and Patricia; sons, William and Samuel; 12 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. In death, she is reunited with her husband, Harold Sabin; her son, David Sabin; grandson, Aaron Sabin; her parents, James and Dorothy; her siblings, Bud Arquilla and Lela Cushion; as well as her late in life partner, Lon Dickerson.
When informed of her imminent passing, she reflected, "I have so many memories, and that is more than enough." Her family invites you to share your favorite Alberta memories through the Cole Funeral Chapel website.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 31, at 1:30 p.m. in the Chelsea Retirement Community Towsley Village Chapel, with Chaplain Elisabeth Seymour officiating. Burial will be at Oscoda UMC Memorial Gardens in Oscoda at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the UMRC Porter Hills Foundation.
Published by Iosco County News-Herald from Mar. 10 to Mar. 18, 2025.