C. Alberta Walling

C. Alberta Walling, age 91 of Madison, Wisconsin passed away on the 20th of January 2025 after a short time of hospice support while living at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge. She died after an accidental fall and a suspected hip or pelvic fracture.

Alberta was born Catherine Alberta George on January 28,1933 to Albert and Anna (McDermott) George in Barnum, Iowa. She was the third of 8 daughters affectionately known as the “George Girls”. A child of the Depression, Alberta reflected that she never felt poor. She grew up on an Iowa farm with her sisters and they played together when the chores were done. They also had scheduled times to practice the piano each day, and took turns playing the organ at church. Alberta’s father died when she was in high school, so her mother was the force that continued to raise the 8 girls and assure they all went to college. She, along with 6 of her 7 sisters, attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa and became an elementary school teacher. 

Alberta’s first teaching job was in Ames, Iowa with 6th graders. She was active in the Catholic Newman Center on the Iowa State Campus and it’s there that she met (Richard) Dick Walling. After dating for only 3 months Dick proposed and they were married July 13, 1957. Alberta continued teaching until she became a mother, and then stepped into her true profession, motherhood.

Alberta gave birth to 5 children, Cathy, David, Karen, Lynn and Laura and became a “stay at home” mother. She often reflected that in the 60s she had her babies. In the 70s she raised them and spent countless hours carpooling to various children’s sports and music activities. 

During that time period Alberta always carried a knitting project and a good book to read, in the event that she had a few minutes of her own when waiting for an activity to be over and her next car pool to begin. She was a master at keeping everyone’s schedules organized well before smart phones and computers existed. She maintained and balanced the checkbook, paid the bills and always kept the family running smoothly.

In the 1980s Alberta supported her children during their college and young adult years, often actively pondering how one “parents” adult children. In 1984 Alberta and Dick purchased land on No Mans’ lake in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. They spent many happy times sharing their special place with family and friends.

During the 1990s she delighted in the role of grandmother and ultimately reveled in 9 grandchildren supporting and following their unfolding lives. During her time as Grandma, she played countless games of Rummikub, Candy Land, Go Fish, and read many many children’s books. She made sure there were always the special homemade seasoned oyster crackers and the pencil swirl creme filled Pirouline cookies on hand. She had the ready bag of candy corn or some other “special treat” in her fanny pack to encourage lagging grandchild hikers. Grandma shared her love and discovery of God's beauty and wonder in the natural world, from animal tracks and wild flowers to the calls of the loon.

By the 2000s Alberta and Dick were enjoying many trips across the country and around the world. Family was always important to Alberta and Dick so they often invited some of their siblings to join them on their motorhome adventures in the US and for travels abroad. Many relatives have reflected upon their generous sharing of motorhome travels with family and friends.

The precious bond Alberta shared with her own sisters was strengthened when they began hosting “sisters” weekends beginning in 1987. For many years they gathered annually at different sisters' homes to share memories of their childhoods, their adult lives and to laugh and cry together. All of the extended family knew how important these weekends were for these sisters and rallied to support them happening. 

After a car accident in 1993 Alberta’s spleen and ankle were severely injured ending her ability to cross country ski in the Wisconsin north woods. Then, she and Dick pivoted to winter treks to Florida and ultimately purchased a small home on the 4th fairway of a golf course. They enjoyed many winters in warmer climates where they could get outside to walk and golf regularly.

When Dick died on January 25, 2012, Alberta was ready to sell their home and move into Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge retirement community in Madison, WI. She knew that this multi care living facility would be her “home” the rest of her life. 

She will be remembered for her love and devotion to her family and the love of playing games with her grandchildren as well as being a very fun and engaging Bridge and 500 card player. In addition, Alberta was a master hostess and delighted in being a tour guide when family and friends came to visit and shared her knowledge and love of special local places.

She is survived by 4 of her sisters, Rita Stein, Helen Bormann, Alice Silverstrand, and Eileen Manhart; her 5 children, Cathy Walling (Scott Bell), David (Deb Fuqua) Karen Moravec (Rich), Lynn Moniak (John) and Laura Walling; 9 grandchildren, Sophia and Sarah Walling-Bell, Jessica and Michael Walling, Elliot and Steven Moravec, Phil Cook (Liz Neitzel) , Sarah Kwateh (Ru), Paul Moniak (Clara Berning); and one great grandchild, Kylie Cook and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Albert George; her husband, Dick Walling; her sisters, Mary Margaret Stein, Teresa Nasers, Annette George, OSF; and many sisters and brothers-in-law.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, 2420 St. Albert the Great Drive, Sun Prairie, WI on Saturday January 25, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. Burial will conclude at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic Cemetery.

A visitation will be held at Cress Funeral Home, 3325 E. Washington Ave, Madison, Wi. on Friday January 24 from 5-8 PM (with a time of collective sharing of memories from 7-8 PM) and also at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM. 

Her children wish to acknowledge and thank the staff at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge for their many years of care and support and the Agrace Hospice team for their very sensitive and loving guidance as we navigated the last weeks of her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Alberta Walling to the Sisters of St. Francis 3390 Windsor Avenue, Dubuque, Iowa 52001-1311 , or Agrace Hospice, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway Madison, Wisconsin 53711.

To watch the live stream or recording of C. Alberta Walling's Funeral Mass please click the link below.

https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony/?c=7e516779-3bd8-417a-a576-163c50291313