Lorena Mary Albrecht

Lorena "Sis" Mary Albrecht, 98 of Petronila, Texas passed away on Monday, August 5, 2013. Memorial services will be conducted on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. at the St. John Lutheran Church, 30650 Texas 95, Bartlett, Texas, 76511, with burial to follow in the St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery. Lorena was born in Davilla, Texas on April 9th, 1915, near Holland, Texas to William Carl "Willie" and Lena Augusta (Spiegelhauer) Fischer. Lorena graduated from Holland High School in 1934 and it was there that she took normal academics as well as agriculture and sports. She was talented in tennis and was awarded First Place in Girl's Doubles in the Bell County Interscholastic League in 1932. She was especially talented in math due to her first job after school and weekends at the Liles Grocery Store in Holland, Texas. Lorena's Agricultural class took a field trip to Taylor, Texas, where she met her true love Curtis Carl Albrecht. The Fischer and the Albrecht farms resided about eight miles apart, they both attended, were baptized, and confirmed in the St. John's Lutheran Church. On October 11, 1936, they were married at the age of 21. The two headed south to farm in Taft, Texas, for a short time and onto Petronila where they farmed and lived for over seventy years. Lorena complemented Curtis by keeping farm records and truly enjoyed farm life as that was her families love as well. She and Curtis loved to dance and really enjoyed their travels with family and friends. She also was a beautiful seamstress and sewed her own wedding dress and that of her bridesmaids. She continued to sew her children's clothes all the way through high school and beyond. She spent quality time with her children and grandchildren, making sure there multiplications skills were memorized, playing games of dominos to sharpen their math skills, and she continued to excite her family with fun activities. One of the events most descriptive of her energy and pursuit of her life interests was her decision to revive her childhood interest in tennis. At age 80, she built a tennis court for the family and made personal use for play and practice, this led her to an 8th ranking in National Senior Women's at age 89. She always had a full course home cooked meal at lunch for Curtis daily and during harvest she took home cooked meals to the field. Lorena participated in the Community activities; The Petronila School PTA, The Par Advanced Club, and The Cotton Wives of South Texas. Lorena is preceded in death by parents, three brothers; Ernest Gus, Henry Albert, Lorena is preceded in death She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers: Ernest Gus, Henry Albert, and Arthur William Fischer, two sisters; Leola Ida Fischer (Gersbach), Lillie Lena Fischer, one daughter and son-in-law; Mary Ann (Wayne) Hurt, one nephew; Kenneth "Kenny" Gersbach, one niece; Genevieve Lorena Fischer. Lorena is survived by one daughter; Christine Caroline (Dewey) Smith of Corpus Christi and one sister; Leatha Ella Svadlenak of Houston, Texas. Lorena was lovingly known as "Grandma" to her grandchildren; Carolyn (Melvin) Burch of Petronila, Randy (Lori) Harwell of Robstown, Nathan (Becky) Hurt, Silas and Andrew Hurt of Houston. Lorena was blessed to have and love six great grandchildren; Courtney and Curtis Burch, Austin and Abigail Harwell, and Travis and Amanda Hurt; two nieces; LaWanda (Wilbur) Ball of Waco, Texas, and Rita Kaye Angrisiani of Naples, Italy; two nephews; Ernest Collis (Kathi) Fischer of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Joe Allen Svadlenak of Houston, Texas, and many great nieces, nephews, and cousins. Serving as pallbearers are: Randy and Austin Harwell, Melvin and Curtis Burch, Nathan Hurt and Joe Allen Svadlenak. The family would like to thank everyone at Mirador Plaza and Harbor Hospice of Gulf Coast for their special care and support. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, P. O. Box 70, Bartlett, Texas, 76511 or your favorite charity. Services are entrusted to The Gabriels Funeral Chapel, 393 North IH-35, Georgetown, Texas 78628. (512) 869-8888. Personal words of comfort may be sent to the family online at www.gabrielsfuneral.com