Faye Leona Albert, age 93, of Sweet Home passed away Tuesday. Faye was born in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada to Otto W. and Pearl (Dove) Slater.

Faye and her family came to Oregon in 1919, and she spent the remainder of her life here. She was one of 17 children and, although poor by financial standards, her family was rich in the things that mattered. There was a deep and abiding love for every member of their close-knit family group, as well as respect and appreciation of their differences.

Work was a natural part of Faye’s everyday life. As a child, she had not only her personal chores to do, but was given almost total responsibility for caring for a new baby, her sister Dorothy.

Even though Faye grew up in difficult and challenging financial times, she shared many wonderful memories of family life on the Middle Fork and her beloved Fern Hill. Family, friends, and neighbors often gathered together for the normal celebrations of life (weddings, birthdays, funerals, etc.), but also for the sheer pleasure of being together and enjoying each others company.

Faye was a “life long learner.” She continued her quest for knowledge her entire life. Books and reading were important to her. A basket of books she was reading at the time of her death still sit by her chair, along with her mending basket. Education was such a priority in her life that she ventured away from her rural life to live in the city as “hired help” in order to finish her high school years and earn a diploma.

After meeting, being avidly courted by, and marrying her beloved husband, John, Faye reluctantly moved to Portland. She enjoyed the years there and appreciated the new experiences of city life and the close friendships formed and joined with many other women of her generation as a factory worker during the war years.

During her time in Portland, she embarked on her most important mission in life—being a mother. She excelled at the job of being a mother! Her children can talk for hours about how much fun she was, what a sense of humor, her practical jokes, her cooking, how she supported them, and made them feel loved and so special. What a wonderful strong woman she was. We all loved her and mourn her passing.

She is survived by her children, Tom (JoAnn) of Sweet Home, Donald James “Jim” (Mary) Albert of Sublimity, Janice Albert (life partner, Terry Lovely) of Sweet Home, and Susan Albert of Eugene; sisters, Gertie Nye, Jean Robinson, Doris Slater, Shirley Anderson, and Gayle Thomas; brother, Caryl Slater; seven grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and 10 great, great grandchildren.

Faye was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, John T. Albert, in 1998; her parents; and ten siblings.

Memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m., Monday, December 28, at Sweet Home Evangelical Church, 1347 Long St., Sweet Home.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling services.