Submitted by: Dan Rich

E. Alberta Dempsey

Sept. 28, 1916 - Dec. 18, 2006

South Bend Tribune 12/26/2006

SOUTH BEND -- E. Alberta Dempsey, 90, passed away on Monday, December 18, 2006, in the Ironwood Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on September 28, 1916, in Muncie, Indiana. Preceding her in death were her husband, Charles E. "Chuck" Dempsey Sr.; her parents, Edward Grider and Augusta Alexander Grider; a sister, LaDonna Jackson; a brother, Thomas Clarkson; her stepfather, Hansberry Holley; and her son-in-law, Horace Fields.

Alberta leaves to mourn her passage two daughters, Phyllis Fields and Juanita Dempsey, both of South Bend; and three sons, Charles E. "Chip" Dempsey Jr., Kenneth L. Dempsey of South Bend and Stephen A. Dempsey of Marlton, NJ. Also surviving are six sisters, Jeanette "Lue" Harris and Dortha Parchman of South Bend, Millie Phelp of Palm Coast, FL, Peaches Morris of LaPorte, IN, Norma Jean Vaughn (George) of Los Angeles, CA, and LaCreta Brown of Upper Marboro, MD; one brother, Chester Holley (Thelma) of Detroit, MI; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Dempsey of South Bend, IN; 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, friends, and several neighborhood children to whom she was "Grandma."

As a teenager, Alberta moved with her mother and stepfather to a farm in Wakarusa, IN, where she lived until her marriage in December 1934. Alberta graduated from Madison Township (Wakarusa) High School with honors. Her art work was prominently featured in her 1933 graduation album. Alberta was an outstanding player on the women's basketball team, and later became an excellent swimmer. Alberta was an avid reader and a dedicated member of the 1st A.M.E. Zion Church, where she was director of the Buds of Promise, a life member of the Missionary Society, and for a number of years was responsible for publishing the church bulletin each week. She and her husband also compiled a pictorial and written history of the church, which was published in 1976. Active in community affairs, Alberta was a board member of the South Bend Housing Corp., and participated in much of the LaSalle Park Housing Project. Later, in the early 1960s, she was a member of a city-sponsored committee that worked to eliminate segregated housing in South Bend. Alberta was an excellent cook and a gracious hostess to all who entered her home, whether they be family members, adult friends, her children's friends, Notre Dame students, or police officers stopping by for a cup of coffee. She was a Chicago Bulls fan until Michael Jordan left the team, and loved football, and even though she had Alzheimer's, she was able to follow a game to some extent, and was not pleased when Notre Dame or the Bulls lost.

The family extends their gratitude to all who cared for Alberta during her extended illness: Dr. Robert Oppman, the emergency room and 4th floor North Staff of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center and the staff of the Ironwood Health and Rehabilitation Center. Alberta was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and aunt. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's kept her from really knowing some of her great-grandchildren. She was a wise advisor, and a lifelong devoted daughter of God. She was a lady whose presence on this earth made it a better place to be.

Services will be held in the First A.M.E. Zion Church at 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 27th. Friends may call today, December 26th, from 4 to 8 p.m. in ALFORD'S FUNERAL HOME, or one hour prior to the services on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an Alzheimer's research or care facility.