Rosemarie "Rose" Albano

Rosemarie “Rose” Albano passed away on July 9, 2023 of congestive heart failure.  She was 82 years old.  She was born in Frankfurt, Germany on May 10, 1941 to Maximiliane Gunderman and Ludwig Klock. Her mother was her best friend who she loved and admired.  Rose’s siblings were Ludwig II, Marianne, Karen, and Werner.  The children worked most days of the week in the family laundromat after school.  Rose loved Sundays when the family would go to church and then walk through the forest to an activity or restaurant, and then back home through the forest.  The war drafted her father, where he served as a furrier, which he continued to do after the war.  She was particularly close with her dashing younger brother Werner, who owned an antique shop before his passing from an automobile accident at the young age of 27.  Rose was not particularly enthusiastic about school however she was very social and took pride in her prowess as a matchmaker.  She worked at the Nestle Company, where she excelled as an accountant.     

Rose met Brent Albano while attending a Mardi Gras dance event with her sister Marianne in 1958. Brent was the only American soldier she had met who had a car, which was a dazzling red convertible MG.  They began dating, which culminated in their marriage in Frankfurt and several fun road trips together to various destinations in Italy.  Maximiliane was impressed with Brent’s personal cleanliness and other attributes.  Brent made a promise to Maximiliane that he would always support and take care of Rose forever in America.  With that, Rose and Brent left on a transport ship to America in 1959 to start a family and a professional career for Brent with the Great American Insurance Company in San Francisco. After a 7-year company relocation to Bountiful, Utah, they settled in beautiful Fair Oaks, California to raise their family.  Life was good. 

Rose quickly met many other German women in Fair Oaks.  They became fast friends, which lead to spectacular, regular and ongoing afternoon luncheons at the ladies’ homes.  The luncheons were special occasions for the women, including nothing but the finest German delicacies from Gibson’s German Store.  The luncheons went for several hours at a minimum, usually longer, with the highlight being the colorful conversation, fine cakes and desserts.  Cigarettes and coffee were in abundance; the finest hairstyles, clothing, and jewelry were on display, and the children quickly became very familiar with the German language.

Rosemarie took much pride in her home and raising the children.  She was an example of hard work, determination, and integrity.  The house was kept immensely clean and orderly, which was simultaneously very impressive and challenging for the children to maintain at times.  Clutter did not exist there.  The children were given meaningful gifts: Diana, a horse named Wendy; Tony, motorcycles and a drum set; and John, a guitar and music lessons.  She made sure the family had meals together on a regular schedule, assisted with schoolwork, and fastidiously took care of the clothing and related needs.   Rose took significant interest in the children’s friends; interacting and making treats for them after school, learning about their families, and encouraging their personal growth and development.  Rose also served as a role model to her children in accomplishment. One of her proudest moments was completing her US citizenship classes and being granted her official status as a US citizen in the late 1970s. 

Rose enjoyed many varieties of music and fine art including sculpture, painting, fashion, jewelry, classical and popular music.  She was proficient with macrame in the 1970s; showcasing, trading and selling her handmade artistic designs in local crafts shows.  She greatly valued the artistic accomplishment of others.  Her love of fine automobiles mirrored her love of art with her favorites being her cream-colored and glossy Jaguar XJ6 and the unparalleled Mercedes Benz. 

As a mother in her later years, Rosemarie continued her work actively supporting and advising her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren regarding their individual lives.  Additionally, she believed that children needed support well into adulthood, and far beyond their younger years.  She made extraordinary efforts to make sure the children believed in themselves, making it abundantly clear that they are accomplished, talented and confident individuals.  Her never-ending belief and impassioned dedication to her large American family was customized for each, and in particularly for those who needed more or were less fortunate.  Rose taught the entire family to never give up on a member of the family who was in need, no matter how difficult it may be.      

Rose was an excellent athlete, setting high standards through her extensive cardiovascular workouts.  Her resulting strong health helped her overcome cancer in her 60’s. She was an accomplished swimmer as a child, which continued into adulthood through her regular trips to Folsom Lake for long swims.  There were occasions at Folsom Lake when the kids wondered if she was going to be able to swim all the way back to the shore from her long breaststroke routes through the cool and refreshing water.  Rose took up golfing for several years due to the close affiliation with Northridge Country Club, which developed into a very special community for her and Brent for nearly 50 years.  Lastly and most importantly, Rose was an accomplished long-distance runner for several decades, which transitioned to power walking throughout most of her later years.  She maintained an active lifestyle and enjoyed excellent health throughout most of her life.

In recent years Rose struggled to overcome the effects of the COVID virus, which ultimately impacted her passion and enthusiasm for life.  As is typical, she endured.  Her last day was a good day, she was very happy to be shopping with family and picking out jewelry.  One of her deepest joys was collecting fine jewelry and giving it away freely to family and friends, as well as acquaintances she simply came across in her life. She was the most generous and giving person.                

Throughout her life, Rose carried her beloved German family and motherland close to her heart, returning there to visit more the 50 times.  She is survived by her husband Brent, daughter Diana, sons Tony and John, daughters in law Christine and Valerie, brother Ludwig, sister Karen, cousin Klaus Eckmueller, niece Elona Kaertner, nephews Ralph, Doug and Rod Pavek, 10 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren.  Rose will be missed immensely by so many and remembered endearingly forever.  There will never be another Rosemarie Albano.  We “love her to the moon and back and will always remember who we are.”   

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