Esther Mary Albero 88, passed away peacefully on Saturday September 27, 2025, in Smithfield NC.

She was born on April 15, 1937, in the Bronx, New York. She worked in Manhattan College in the food service for most of her life as a cashier. All the college kids knew her and loved her, she had a twinkle in her eyes and a smile to light up an entire cafeteria.

She was a wonderful mother to her children Lisa Albero and Louis John Albero, a great Mother in law to her daughter in law Lourdes Albero and son in law Jack Knowles. She was known as grandma to all especially her grandkids Andrew Albero, Natalie Albero, Raquel Albero and Justin Knowles. She had other kids that were also loved as grandkids Luis Morales, Kevin Benitez, Ruby Benitez, Mark Benitez and Rachel Bily. The light of her eyes was her first Great-Grandson; Sebastian Luis Morales and she lit up when she spoke and saw pictures of her other great baby, Enzo Maximus Benitez.

She loved to spend time with her nieces and nephews when possible Linda Albero Ringwald, Anthony Albero and Rudy Ringwald. She spoke to her brother-in-law, Ronald Albero frequently to chitchat about all the things going on, she just loved to chitchat.

Esther's true love was her beloved husband Louis Albero JR whom she suffered the loss of on 9/26/2014, She always bought joy to those around her, she was always happy to help everyone whenever they needed her help. She loved to be surrounded by all members of her immediate family and her extended family some of which included Elizabeth Benitez, Eduardo Arias, Fran Pino, Tammy Herrera, she spent her last years surrounded by love, laughter and joy.

Esther loved to clean, she loved music and dancing around while she cleaned, she was always humming music and she was the first one up every morning. She was alive in the morning and feet up by evenings. She use to say catch me in the morning because I am no good at night. She loved sweets and we all made sure she had plenty to choose from but her favorites were marshmallows, peeps and jelly beans. She would never say no to a cup of coffee and a donut. Whenever you would bring her home a milkshake she would light up and lick her lips with joy and at the end of every sweet she would say, "delicious".

She loved to enjoy life with all the kids, she felt like one of the gang. She would love fast rides in cars with Kevin, he would rent a car for his birthday, a Corvette or the Slingshot and she would be so excited to go faster and faster. There are so many videos of pranks that Mark would play on her and she would always be laughing at the end, she was a fun grandma to all and she was so loved by all her kids even the 30-, 40-, 50- and 60-year-olds because she would always say to us "What's Cooking Kid"

She was generous with her time and she always had this wonderful energy; she loved all the family pets but there were 2 main ones that always ran into her room for their massages. Scrappy and Oliver would always sit in front of her and she would say you're here so grandma can massage you and she would sit there and pet them for a while. At the end LULU our 21-year-old cat would always sleep with her and she always called her the baby, until she crossed the rainbow bridge.

Until we see you again grandma, May you be dancing and singing in heaven and may your bright light always be shining among us.