Alberta Kirchgesner

“Bert” was born January 13, 1927, in Springfield, the daughter of John D. and Elizabeth Snook Armstrong. She married John “Jack” Kirchgesner at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in 1946.

In her youth, she enjoyed spending her summers with her farming relatives. Alberta was a member of the Girl Scouts before graduating in 1944 from Ursuline Academy. She was a homemaker most of her life but had worked for Staley and Myers Brothers and sold Avon. She served as a Den Mother in Cub Scouts and Room Mother for many of her child rearing years. She enjoyed her flowers, gardening, watching the birds, sewing, and singing in church choirs and her high school glee club. In the mid-1950s, she helped to begin the 22nd Street Pinochle Club, which took a pause when Covid came about.

She was preceded in death by husband, Jack; her parents; and sister, Joanna Whalen.

She is survived by her children, Patricia (John) Kienzler, Catherine (Jerome) Bauman, John (Marilyn), all of Springfield, Dennis (Chris) of Riverton, Kevin of Rushville, Gregory (Carol) of Auburn, and Robert (Lilly) of San Jose, CA; 22 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; brother, John Michael Armstrong of Downers Grove; brother-in-law, Richard (Joann) Kirchgesner of Monticello; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Private family services will be held.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph the Worker Church, 700 E. Spruce St., Chatham, IL 62629; Ursuline Sisters Retirement Fund, 353 S. Sappington, St. Louis, MO 63122; American Cancer Society, 675 E. Linton, Springfield, IL 62703; or Johns Hopkins University & Medicine for COVID-19 Research via https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/giving.html