LEWISTON — Nancy Carolyn Albert, known as “Carolyn,” 79, of Lewiston passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, July 13, surrounded by her family.

Carolyn was born Feb. 20, 1938, to George and Louise Horton Ritchie in Paducah, Ky. She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy High School in Paducah, and then joined the U.S. Air Force. She served as a medic in the 575th Air Hospital, First Fighter Squadron at Selfridge Air Force Base in St. Clement, Mich. It was there that she met the love of her life, Robert Albert.

After completing their military service, the couple married and moved to Davenport, Iowa, where Bob attended the Palmer School of Chiropractic. Upon Bob’s graduation, the couple, with two daughters, moved the family to Lewiston-Auburn, where Bob had grown up. Here they established a chiropractic practice and continued to grow their family, ultimately to seven children. Carolyn lost her beloved Bob in 1972. She never remarried.

In the late ’70s, while raising her children, she attended the University of Maine and graduated in the top of her class with a degree in nursing and a minor in psychology. As a nurse, Carolyn utilized her exceptional skills in a variety of environments, including the VA Hospital at Togus and in the Maine Correctional System’s Supermax Facility. Carolyn spent most of her career caring for the elderly at Marcotte Nursing Home, d’Youville Pavilion, and other area nursing homes. Late in her career, she worked as a health services consultant for the state of Maine.

Carolyn had numerous talents and hobbies. She was an avid reader of many topics and was very interested in current events and politics. She was a Renaissance woman who loved the arts, wrote poetry and prose, played several musical instruments, and painted beautiful landscapes and seascapes in oil. She enjoyed interior decorating and drawing architectural plans. Carolyn loved gardening and was proud of the lush and beautiful sanctuary that bloomed in her backyard each spring and summer. Far and above all else, Carolyn loved family, her children and their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and of course, her canine “children” Toby, Benji, and Beau.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 16 years, Robert Albert; her parents; and a sister, Juanita “Tootie” Colson.

She will be greatly missed by her sister, Kathy Kline of Paducah, Ky., her loving children, Paula Cosgrove and husband, Tom, of Langhorne, Pa., Ann Bisson and husband, Lionel, of Stafford Springs, Conn., Lee Cyr and husband, Doug, of Madawaska, Michelle Berube and husband, Larry, of Leeds, Steven Albert and companion, Brenda, of Poland, Christine Albert of Auburn, and Cindy Albert and husband, Christopher Silva, of Marlborough, Mass.; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and many friends and neighbors.

Carolyn’s family is deeply grateful to Jamie, Karen and Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice for their wonderful care and support.

Condolences and a video tribute may be found online at www.albert-burpee.com.

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