Jo Ann Albers
May 26, 1937 - November 14, 2022
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Jo Ann Albers
May 26, 1937 - November 14, 2022
Obituary
Jo Ann Albers, 85, of Bellingham, Washington, passed away November 14, 2022.
Jo Ann was born in 1937 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to Tena and Vincent Bevon. She is survived by sons David (Robin) and Eric, brothers John (Joan) and Leo (Anne). She was preceded in death by her husband Jim in 1996 and brother Bernard (Janice).
Jo Ann was raised during the Depression and attended parochial school through high school, graduating at the top of her class in 1955. She played piano and basketball during that time as well as studying poetry and public speaking. She went on to earn her RN certification at Hotel Dieu Hospital in New Orleans, LA. Upon graduation she began her nursing career with the US Public Health Service and continued working on her Bachelor’s in Nursing at Loyola University in New Orleans. In 1958 she transferred to the US Public Health Service office in Atlanta, GA and continued working on her bachelor’s degree at Emory University.
In 1959, one of Jo Ann’s friends was moving to Seattle for a new job. She accompanied her on the road trip and fell in love with the Northwest. She learned of a job opening at the Northwest Kidney Center and applied. The center was doing research on developing an artificial kidney for chronically ill patients. She was hired. Jo Ann was an integral part of the research team, and a pioneer in Dialysis Nursing. She developed many of the techniques for this emerging treatment and wrote the first textbook on Dialysis Nursing. It was here that she met Jim Albers, who was one of the first kidney dialysis patients and a physics professor at Seattle University. He and Jo Ann began dating and went on to marry in 1961. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Nursing at the University of Washington.
The family moved to Ferndale in 1970, where she began a long career at St. Joseph’s Hospital, culminating in her position as Director of Nursing until retiring in 1998.
She was the ultimate mother and grandmother. She was the matriarch of her and Jim’s extended family and host of many family gatherings. She was a wonderful cook and loved to bake. Her table was open to all. She was active in the PTA, she volunteered as Den Mother, chaperoned daytrips and campouts and supported everyone’s dreams and aspirations. She was very outspoken in daily life and very politically active throughout her life.
Her greatest joy during retirement was spending time with her grandchildren, Benjamin, and Samuel, who she absolutely adored.
She will be dearly missed by her surviving family and all who knew her.
14 responses to Jo Ann Albers
Nancy Kaye says:
November 20, 2022
Met JoAnn in her position as Nursing Directer when I joined St. Josephs at the Recovery Center for Alcohol and drugs 1987. She was always Direct and capable. Thank you “good and faithful servant”
Becky Galvin says:
November 21, 2022
JoAnn was a huge influence in my nursing career. I came to St. Joes in 1984 when it was a much smaller hospital and JoAnne was the director of nursing at that time. She knew every nurse by name and treated everyone with dignity and respect. I admired so much that she always encouraged nurses to participate in the process, including bringing in programs to help nurses continue their education. She was the ultimate advocate for nurses. She brought an enormous amount of energy to whatever she participated in. My condolences to her family. You must be very proud!
Eleanor Mischaikow says:
November 21, 2022
Jo Ann Albers, with unbridled enthusiasm she cooked and cleaned and hollered and generally supported the FH German campouts to make them successful and memorable. For ever will she hold a place in my heart.
My love and condolence goes out to David and Erik.
Eleanor Mischaikow (German teacher)
Nancy Simpson says:
November 22, 2022
I met Jo Ann when I was working in Ketchikan. It was my first administrative job and she was my mentor. I could always rely on her for advice. The advice was sound but she did not sugar coat the message. Later I transferred to St. Joes and worked with her. Jo Ann was a person who made a difference, not only to people around her but to the greater good. She had a presence that could not be ignored. You learned by being in proximity to her. Some of the lessons you kept and others you forgot. She had a marvelous sense of humor and one of the most animated story tellers I had ever met. She would captivate a group with her rendition and embellishments of an event. She had great empathy for those less fortunate and gave generously. In these last years I had lost touch with her but have often thought of her. She adored her family and I remember when she lost Jim she told me she had lost her best friend. My sympathy to her family. Rest in peace my friend.
Alicia Hickman says:
November 25, 2022
I worked at St. Joes in the 80’s and got to know her then. I remember her voice and loved listening to her speak… such a lady, good sense of humor, kind, with a beautiful soul