Alberta Freese

Alberta Ida (Romero) Freese, 90, passed peacefully Feb. 9, 2015, surrounded by family at her Overland Park home of more than 60 years. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, at the Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66204. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Overland Park Chapel. Graveside services will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS.
Born Oct. 1, 1924, in Terraville, SD, Alberta spent her childhood in Denver. She met her husband, John Calvin Freese, in New York City during World War II. John, a New Orleans native, was in the Navy, and Alberta worked for Western Union. They were married for 64 years and had 13 children. He passed away Oct. 27, 2007.
Alberta was a freelance writer who wrote poetry, short stories, books, articles and numerous letters to the editor published in local papers. She was a self-taught intellectual and enjoyed traveling the world. Alberta loved nature, children and the arts. She was a beautiful woman with an adventurous spirit. Alberta was a member of both Queen of the Holy Rosary and Holy Cross parishes.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Anna (Kilpelia) Hiser, a Finnish immigrant from Sweden, and Frank Romero, from Whitewood, SD; her brother, Robert, her sisters Betty and Ruthie; a daughter, Mary Westall, and a son, Robert. She is survived by her children: John Jr., Albert, Wade, Theodore, Anna Hilleary, Elizabeth Freese-Watkins, LTC Lorraine Carney, USA, Ret., Barbara Tomlinson, Joy Chibnall, Sylvia Nichols, and David; 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
The family wants to thank everyone who helped care for her, especially Alberta’s grandchildren, Monique and Lauren, who provided daily care for the last 8 years. We would also like to thank the Kansas City Hospice, who helped care for Alberta this past year. Flowers are welcome, as are donations to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, 1500 Meadow Lake Pkwy, Ste 200, Kansas City, MO 64114. Online condolences may be offered at www.overlandparkchapel.com

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