John Michael Alberti

John "Mike" Alberti, age 51, a "Naplater" for life, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

Memorial Mass will be held at 11 am, Saturday, April 13 at St. Francis Church. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 am, prior to services, at the church. He will be buried at St. Columba Cemetery. Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.

Mike just wanted to say: Apparently I have passed on. Everyone told me it would happen one day, but that's something I didn't want to hear, much less experience. Once again, I didn't get things my way! Been the story of my life. And while we are on the subject (the story of my life), I graduated from Ottawa High School in 1985 and from ITT Tech in 1994. I was a member of St. Mary's Church and St. Mary's Men's Club. I am a die hard fan of the Chicago Cubs, "Go Cubbies!"

But from the beginning my parents, Jean (Dinelli) and Faustino Alberti, and my two sisters, Mary Ellen and Linda, celebrated my birth on May 17, 1967. I remember growing up in a happy home. We attended church at St. Mary's in Naplate. My mother made the best ravs and lasagna, and she'd make me my very own pan. I'd hide it in the refrigerator in the basement so my sisters wouldn't get to it. I remember lots of friends and family, always laughter and giggles in abundance.

Backing up again, I was born, I blinked, and it was over. No buildings named after me, no monuments erected in my honor, but I did have a chance to know and love the people in my life. To Diane Martin and Ron Alleman (the Chauffeur), you guys are the best. Eillen King and Jim Fuchsen...can't thank you guys enough. The (Flossie and Walt) Strickland Family, you guys are angels on earth. To my cousins, especially Nancy and Peter, I'll give everyone your love. Nancy, thank you for the calls I so enjoyed. And Peter, always there for us to crunch the numbers. How much more blessed can a person be.

Me and my sisters lived our lives believing that hard work and perseverance was the "Alberti" motto. God gave us strength and grace. My sisters and I faced daily challenges with Muscular Dystrophy. But it didn't control us, and we handled it by having a wonderful sense of humor, never allowing it to slow us down, and never complaining or feeling sorry for ourselves. Linda passed, then Mary Ellen, and now... I have joined them. We are all together, mom, dad, Lena, Mary Ellen, Linda, my aunts, and last but not least, me.

Remember, do your best, follow your arrow, and make something great out of your life, and never stop smiling. I could go on and on and on, but the Cubbies are playing so I gotta go. Thanks God for taking me out to the ball game. See ya's when you get here!

Love, Mike! AKA John Michael Alberti.

PS-Mike's love for the Cubs goes unsurpassed-please feel free to wear your Cubs Gear at my Celebration of Life.