Charlene "Carolina" Ellen Alber

Affectionately known as “Carolina”, Charlene Ellen Alber, went to be with her Lord and savior on January 13, 2020. She peacefully transitioned in the company of family and loved ones. Charlene was born to Fredrick Alber and Beatrice (Hansen) Alber on the Northwest side of Grand Rapids on January 4, 1938. She was the second youngest of 8 children. Charlene lived life to the fullest while raising 8 children of her own. She had many jobs in her life span but loved being a mother the most. She made each one of her children feel as if they were solely her favorite just by the way her eyes would light up when one of them walked into her presence. She could melt any heart with her dimpled smile and her deep blue eyes. She loved to dance (even though was wasn’t very good at it). She could command the attention in any room with her quick wit and charm. Charlene had a great sense of fashion and always kept up with the latest trends. She refused to leave the house without having her eyebrows skillfully drawn on and putting on her lipstick. She loved animal prints and anything shiny but tasteful and just little over the top. She had great strength and resilience and was never afraid to speak her mind. She lived by the choices she made, meeting every challenge and obstacle head on and refused to settle for mediocrity. Charlene was an innovator, a free thinker, and was very progressive and ahead of her time. She encouraged her children to use their imagination and taught them how to birth things out of their creativity. Charlene raised her children to be independent and instilled in them the power of God and prayer. Charlene had a tenacious spirit and a charitable heart. She loved to give out of her abundance and was always willing to lend a helping hand to meet a need. She disapproved of injustice, conscientious stupidity, and sincere ignorance. She often gave advice, and was famous for affectionately telling someone, “that’s your bag of rocks; now deal with it”. Charlene was very neat and well organized. She had a knack for decorating and an above average skill level with a can of spray paint. She loved to shop, watch ice skating on TV, going to garage sales on Saturdays, rescuing animals, thrift store shopping, going to the beach and watching the boats ride up and down the channel. Charlene gave her life to Christ in 1974 and was baptized at Deeper Life Tabernacle in Allendale, MI. She looked forward to going home to be with her Lord and savior and was excited about getting to move the furniture around in her mansion in heaven. She was proceeded in death by her parents, Frederick and Beatrice, 3 brothers Tom, Jim, and Bob and 2 sisters Irene and Mary Jane. She leaves behind 8 children; Mary Jo Alber-Sliede (Tim), Susan Kemp (Brian), Charles Kemp (Georgia), Daniel Kemp, Steven Kemp (Debbie), Kenneth Kemp, Lorna Miller (Dwight), Gean Alber (Leanne), 21 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren, 2 sisters Pat and Bonnie, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A memorial service will be held in her honor on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 12PM at the Arsulowicz Brothers West Chapel, 585 Stocking Ave N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49504. The family will receive visitors from 11AM to 12PM. www.arsulowiczbrothers.com

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Charlene "Carolina" Ellen Alber

January 4, 1938 - January 13, 2020