Obituary of Alberta M. Rau

Alberta M. Rau, 85, of Port Charlotte, Florida passed away Sunday, September 13, 2009 after a brief illness at Charlotte Regional Medical Center in Punta Gorda. She was born May 8, 1924 in Cadillac, Michigan to Frank and Martha (nee Gilcrist) Kotts. Alberta and her family moved to Detroit where she met and married Norman Rau, a Detroit Police Officer, in 1945. Upon their retirement in 1976, they moved to Port Charlotte. Alberta was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a pillar of strength for her family, always displaying a quick wit and sense of humor. Even at age 85, Alberta loved baseball and never missed a chance to watch her Detroit Tigers. Alberta is survived by two daughters, Valorie (Richard) Cook and Marcia (Larry) Lyon, both of Port Charlotte; two granddaughters, Michele (Todd) Fitzgerald and Tracie (Kendall) Baird, both of Port Charlotte; four great-grandchildren, Jason Peck and Lexie Fitzgerald and Clayton and Maegen Baird all of Port Charlotte; a sister, Retta (Carl) Blankstrom of Dearborn Heights, MI; a brother, Robert Kotts of Houghton Lake, MI; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Norman in 2003. Memorial Services will be private. To send condolences please visit schelmfh.com. Preferred donations may be made in loving memory of Alberta to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements by Paul Schelm Funeral Home in Port Charlotte. Phone (941) 625-3535.