Dorothy L. Alberti

Dorothy, a longtime resident of Quinnesec, was born Dec. 1, 1925, in Vulcan to the late James and Louise (Tippett) Recla. At the age of two, Dorothy’s family moved to Quinnesec where she resided for the next 95 years. Dorothy’s early years were very humble. Even in her last days, her mind was sharp, and she clearly recalled her childhood days during the Great Depression, standing in lines for food and leaving school in seventh grade because of a lack of shoes.

In 1941, at the age of 16, she met Robert Alberti at the roller rink on Cedar Street in Iron Mountain. Robert joined the U.S. Army in World War II and sent her an engagement ring while he was stationed in Oregon. Dorothy accepted, boarded a Greyhound bus, and married Robert on Jan. 28, 1943. Upon Robert’s leaving for Germany in late 1944, Dorothy returned to Lansing where she stayed with her mother until Robert’s return from Germany in January of 1946. It was a joyful reunion and Robert finally met his daughter, Sharon, who was already six months old.

Robert and Dorothy welcomed two additional children, Robert Jr. and Chris and became fixtures in the town of Quinnesec. Dorothy went back to school, receiving her GED and becoming a certified nurse’s aid at the age of 39. She spent many years working at Dickinson County Hospital in the maternity ward and always spoke fondly of her time there.

Robert and Dorothy loved their Catholic faith and lived lives devoted to Jesus, extending His love to their neighbors and all those whose lives they touched. Robert preceded Dorothy in death in 2004 and Dorothy remained in Quinnesec in the home they had built together on Bluff Street until her move to Evergreen in 2022 where she enjoyed several special friendships.

Dorothy leaves behind her children, Sharon (John) Dougoveto and Robert Jr. (Grace) Alberti; daughter-in-law, Sheryl Alberti; sister, Marian Ruhf; brother, William Recla; stepsister, Beverly (James) Leslie; grandchildren, Walter (Kimberly) Dougoveto, Andrea Dougoveto, Angela Oller, Maria (Tom) Erickson, Anna Condit, Joseph (Mary Ellen) Dougoveto, Aubrey (Brent) Alberti, Paul Alberti, Arthur Alberti, Dorothy Alberti, Patsy Alberti, and Robert Alberti; and 29 great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; son, Chris Alberti; grandson, Christopher Alberti; grandsons-in-law, Luke Condit and Shane Hawkins; brother, Richard (Florence) Recla; sister, Charlotte (Richard) Secord; brother-in-law, Dean Ruhf; and great-granddaughter, Therese Dougoveto.

A visitation for Dorothy will be held Sunday, March 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday, March 24, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Iron Mountain with Fr. Mike Chenier presiding.

A luncheon will follow immediately after Mass. Burial will be at Quinnesec Cemetery.

Condolences to the family of Dorothy Alberti may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.