Albera Sahagian Racine - Albera Sahagian (née Tavitian), 82 years old, passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2013. Albera was born on December 13, 1930 to Ghazar and Lucine Tavitian in Aleppo, Syria. She was the seventh child in a family of eight children. Albera grew up in Beirut, Lebanon and immigrated to Racine in 1957 when she married George Sahagian, who passed away in 2010. Together, they raised four children, while George owned and operated George's Beauty Salon on Goold Street. As an active member of the local Armenian community, Albera dedicated her time and talents to the Women's Guild at St. Mesrob Armenian Church. Albera was a smart and creative woman, who was very talented at cooking, sewing and fixing anything. In Beirut, she and her two sisters formed a clothing boutique, where they designed and sewed custom wedding dresses for wealthy clients. In Racine, she was a seamstress at Rainfair and designed and crafted custom cases at Eagle Luggage. Albera made friends easily and had an excellent sense of humor. Most of all, she loved her husband and children, and did everything and anything for them. Albera is survived by her loving four children, Joan (Rick) Stuckmann of McKinney, Texas, Alex Sahagian of Racine, Cathy (Jeff) Mousseau of Wheaton, Illinois, and Michelle Ouzounian of Racine; her five grandchildren, Peter Stuckmann, Jack and Allie Mousseau, and Alex and Zaven Ouzounian; sister, Antoinette DerSimonian, brother, Mehran Tavitian, and many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends. Funeral services for Albera will be held at St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 10 a.m. with Rev. Yeprem Kelegian officiating. Interment will follow at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the funeral home this Tuesday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. Prayer services will be held at 7:45 p.m. Memorials may be directed to St. Mesrob Armenian Church, 4605 Erie St. Racine, WI 53402, or Hospice Alliance, at 10220 Prairie Ridge Blvd., Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158. Albera's children would like to thank Dr. Michael Mullane for his exquisite care of their mother. The family is also grateful for the wonderful care provided by the staff of Aurora Cancer Care and Hospice Alliance. Purath-Strand Funeral Home & Crematory 3915 Douglas Avenue Racine, WI 53402-3230 (262) 639-8000 www.purath-strand.com