Teresita A. del Rosario Albarracin

Dr. Teresita (Terri) del Rosario Albarracin, 86, passed away peacefully in her home on January 29, 2025 in Dublin, Ohio. She was born on November 2, 1938, in Quezon City, Philippines, to Dr. and Mrs. Aurelio (Carmen) del Rosario, Sr. and was one of 6 siblings: Ofelia (Dr. Ramon Dimaculagan), Lilia (Dr. Eduardo Tinio), Rosario (Ignacio Nieva), Aurelio (Fe), and Carmencita (Vicente Trivino). Inspired by her dad, who was a dentist with a busy dental practice in downtown Manila, she studied Dentistry, graduating from the University of the East in 1960. She completed her postgraduate studies in New Haven, Connecticut, taking 2 years of Oral Surgery residency at Yale-affiliated Hospital of St. Raphael. During this time, she met Dr. Narciso Albarracin, Jr., who also took his residency training at the same hospital. They married in 1963 in New Haven and then moved to Columbus, Ohio, where her husband completed his residency training in Pathology at The Ohio State University. Between a promising dental career and family, she chose to be a stay-at-home mom, devoting and centering her life to her husband and children. She took pride in having raised three children in the Catholic faith and enrolling them in Catholic education. Her children are: Maria Cecilia (Tim) Frommeyer of Dublin, Ohio (St. Brigid of Kildare Parish), Narciso (Florence) Albarracin III of Chicago (Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish), and Lyssa Maria (David) Brown of Dublin, Ohio (St. Brigid of Kildare Parish), who all made her a loving “Lola” (grandmother). Her 9 grandchildren are: Camille (Patrick) Nester, Timothy Charles “TC” (Tia) Frommeyer, Colette (Michael) Bodell, Daniel Frommeyer; Narciso Luke and James Albarracin; David, Jr. “DJ”, Mia, and Dillon Brown. Camille and Patrick Nester blessed her with three great grandchildren: Charlie, Jordan, and Blake. She is survived by three of her sisters: Lilia Tinio, Rosie Nieva, and Carmencita Trivino.

In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Terri was active with the St. Andrew Women’s Club, the Columbus Medical Association Women’s Auxiliary, the Columbus Council for International Visitors (COCIV), and the Philippine American Society of Central Ohio (PASCO). She was voted Outstanding Member of PASCO in 1977. She organized the Family Friendship Program for International Visitors of St. Andrew Parish, connecting the OSU international students with American families in the Upper Arlington area. This program allowed students to spend American holidays, especially Thanksgiving, with American families, giving them a better understanding of American culture and tradition. She also initiated a program of Big Bear and Kroger day-old food delivery to the poor, taking bread to soup kitchens on the west side of Columbus. During her child-rearing days, Terri was a soccer mom, a Cub Scout mom, a school-cafeteria mom, and when it became the craze in the 80’s, a tennis-playing mom. When her kids went off to college and the “nest” became empty, she indulged in her love for travel, becoming a travel agent with Uniglobe and enjoying world travel with her husband. Their travels took them to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Greece, Russia, and Scandinavia. They were blessed to take pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Lourdes, Guadalupe, Fatima, Medjugorje, and the Vatican – a testament to their devout faith.

Terri’s faith was shaped by pre-Vatican II Catholicism and her encounter with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement in 1989. She considered her children and grandchildren her legacy and delighted in their remaining faithful to the Catholic Church. In the 1990’s, Terri was active locally with the Columbus Catholic Renewal and nationally with the Alliance of Filipino Catholic Charismatic Prayer Communities serving as the Regional Coordinator of the North Central region.

Of her many interests in life, singing was her favorite, giving her much joy and relaxation. Her friends took pleasure in listening to her sing Filipino “kundiman” songs with her husband accompanying her on the piano. She also enjoyed singing praise and worship songs with family and friends…with a tambourine in hand.

As a long-time resident of Sycamore Hills in Columbus, Ohio and later in life a “snowbird” resident of Fort Myers, Florida, she loved to entertain and bring people together. She was a member of the Filipino American Association of Southwest Florida and the Couples for Christ prayer community, as well as the Santo Nino Group of Cape Coral, Florida. Terri and Al later moved to North Fort Myers and continued to stay involved in their community. They thoroughly enjoyed the times when family and friends would come to visit.

Terri lived her life with fervor. She brought joy to many. Her faith, love, generosity, and leadership impacted many people and she will be dearly missed.

Please join us in celebrating the life of Teresita. Calling hours will be held at Schoedinger Funeral Home, 5980 Perimeter Dr., Dublin, OH 43017 on Thursday, February 6 from 5:00-7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Brigid of Kildare Church, 7179 Avery Road, Dublin, OH 43017 at on Friday, February 7 at 11:00 am. Luncheon to follow at Hendricks Hall on site. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Catholic Foundation at www.catholic-foundation.org. Checks can be made out to “The Catholic Foundation” and mailed to 257 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215.