Denise Elisabeth Albert

Betty was born in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1926, to Eduard and Berthe Gaudin Sutter. Her mother suffered from TB and wasn’t strong enough to care for Betty and her older sister Andree at the same time, so Betty and Andree were often separated and sent to live with relatives while one stayed with their parents. Her mother eventually was hospitalized and passed away when Betty was seven years old. Her father was working in Paris at the time where TB was still rampant, so the sisters spent most of their childhood in the Alps, living with their mother’s best friend and her family.

Eventually Betty’s father remarried Leone Guyard, known as Lily, and moved with his job to Argentina, where he sent for Betty, 13 and Andree, 15, to join them. After spending a year there, the family emigrated to the United States, settling in West Hartford, CT, in 1940 where her father was director of international sales for JB Williams Company.

Not knowing any English, but advanced academically otherwise, both girls were enrolled in the junior year of high school so they could help each other learn English. They both excelled, and Betty graduated from high school at 16. She spent two years at Hartford Junior College and went on to Smith where she graduated cum laude at 20 years old with a degree in political science. Her keen interest in current affairs stayed with her throughout her life.

After graduation Betty moved to New York to be near her sister who was studying art at Pratt Institute and it was through her sister that she met the love of her life, John Albert, also a Pratt student. They married in 1947 and welcomed their first child, Richard Sutter, better known as Rick, in 1948.

John accepted his first design job with Philco and the family moved to the Philadelphia suburb of Glenside, where daughters Susan Denise and Linda Jennifer were born. In 1953, John was hired by Rome Manufacturing, the company that made Revereware, as their product designer, and the family moved to Rome, NY, where in 1955, Christine Elisabeth was born. Betty was a full time Mom for the first 11 years of their marriage, but she wanted to do more. After being asked to substitute teach in elementary school for one semester, she was encouraged by the principal at the school to pursue accreditation to become a full-time teacher. She spent the following summer doing just that and in 1958 Betty started her long and rewarding career as a much beloved elementary school teacher. Upon her passing, a former student commented that Mrs. Albert was “an amazing teacher who inspired us to learn, and to share our learning so we all may grow together. That inspiration has guided my life ever since.”

John and Betty retired together in 1981, and were blessed with 30 more years together, before John passed away in 2011, after nearly 64 years of marriage.

After retiring, when they weren’t traveling, Betty was a constant presence in Susan’s gift shop and restaurant in Rome, NY, a tremendous help and a joy to everyone. Never ones to be idle, she and John also both helped out regularly when Carl and Susan started their weekly newspaper business.

Betty was an avid quilter and her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have “Meena” quilts that they will cherish always. She also made dozens for family friends and as donations to Hibiscus House in Florida and Grace Place, a crisis pregnancy center in Connecticut. When she wasn't quilting she was most often found with a book in her hand, reading being her other passion.

In 2003 Betty and John moved to St. Petersburg, FL where Rick and his wife Terri were close by. In 2010, they moved one last time to Jensen Beach, where they lived out their days with daughter, Susan, and her husband, Carl.

Betty is survived by Rick and Terasa Albert of St. Petersburg, Susan and Carl Eilenberg of Jensen Beach, Linda Madin of Simsbury, CT, Christine and Chris Gage of Austin, TX, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also leaves beloved cousins in Switzerland - Doris Keller, Sarah Keller and Stefan Herrmann, Anne Marie and Rolf Graf-Keller, and Ruth and Miriam Sutter.

Her parents, her dear sister, her beloved John and her son-in-law the Honorable Everett Madin, Jr. passed away before her. We like to imagine the wonderful reunion they are having.

There will be a memorial service at Aycock Funeral Home in Jensen Beach on October 26 at 11am, and a graveside service in Simsbury, CT on November 10 at 11am at Simsbury Cemetery, where Betty will be laid to rest between her husband and her father.

In lieu of flowers and in memory of Betty, please consider making a donation to Swan Songs, a non-profit that fulfills musical last wishes. PO Box 41475; Austin, TX 78704; www.swansongs.org or Quilts Beyond Borders at https//quiltsbeyond.wordpress.com/