Alma M. Sahrbeck

Portland-Alma M. Sahrbeck, 89, of Portland passed away Saturday June 4, 2011 at the South Portland Nursing Home after a five month battle with uterine cancer. She was born on January 27, 1922 in Newark, NJ, the daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth Barnett.

She spent most of her life in New Jersey attending grammar school in Highlands and high school in East Orange. She met the love of her life, Al, on the Staten Island Ferry when she worked in New York City. They were married on Valentine’s Day in 1942 and were rarely apart during their 62 years of their married life, except when he was overseas during WW-II. They settled in Atlantic Highlands, NJ after the war where they raised two children, Bruce and Arlene, until Arlene died from Lupus in 1960.

Alma worked as a secretary (she ran the business) for a small construction company. In 1984, they moved to Bradenton, Fl. After her beloved Al passed away in 2003 she moved to 75 State Street in Portland to be close to her family. She loved being with her great-grandchildren while enjoying her years in Maine.

Alma loved people and giving parties so she could be with many friends she had made, most of whom were like family to her. One of her greatest gifts was her ability to remember the names of all the people she met in her life. Her passion was to be the best wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother she could be and she certainly accomplished all of this. After her husband died, Alma collected angels, and her family will be sustained by the fact that she is in peace with the angels and now is an angel herself.

She is predeceased by her husband, her daughter and her brother "Bud." She leaves her son Bruce and his wife Kathy of Cape Elizabeth, two granddaughters; Keri and her husband Kirk Henriksen of So. Portland, Krista Sahrbeck of Denver, Colorado, two grandsons; Jeffrey and his wife Heather Sahrbeck of Riverside, CT, and Jonathan Sahrbeck of So. Boston.

Alma's family would like to extend their sincere thanks to her "family" at 75 State Street for their friendship. They would also like to thank her most recent "family" at the South Portland Nursing Home, where she received the best care and love possible.

A Memorial service is planned at a later date at 75 State Street.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., PO Box 631047, Baltimore, MD 21263-1047.

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Alma's guestbook.

Arrangements are under the care of Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St.

Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home & Cremation Services

199 Woodford St.

Portland, ME 04103

207-775-3763

www.jonesrichandhutchins.com