FLEMING, Albert (Bert) G.

Albert (Bert) G. Fleming, a loving husband of the late Marie, father of Carol (a Dominican sister), brother, and uncle died on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn. Born June 11, 1907 in Lake Beauport, Quebec, an Irish community in the Laurentians, he emigrated to Michigan in the late 1920s. Bert married Marie A. Moning in 1935 and they settled in Michigan where he worked for the Ford Motor Company and later for the Detroit Board of Education for 28 years as an engineer. In retirement, Bert and Marie wintered in Scottsdale beginning in 1973 until they moved here permanently in 1988. His care of Marie in her illness until her death in 1989 was a model of love and fidelity. Love of his faith and family and concern for others were the hallmarks of his nearly 100 years of life. Irish wit, sense of humor, and courtly manners were the constants of his life even in his final days. He was an avid reader, golfer, fisherman, card player, and solver of crossword puzzles, and participated actively in the Roadrunner men's exercise group for over 25 years. He remained a member of the Wyandatte, MI council of the Knights of Columbus. Extensive travel took the family across the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. He especially cherished his three trips to Ireland. When Carol entered the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) both Bert and Marie became adoptive parents of their (then) 2000 Adrian Dominican daughters. The relationship between them and the Adrian sisters was one of strong mutual love and active service. They visited the Dominican sisters even if Carol was not there. Bert's appreciation of education's value as well as his extraordinary love of his daughter moved him to support ministries in which she served including: Aquinas Institute of Theology, Regina Dominican College Prep, and Boys Hope Girls Hope in IL and AZ. Bert is survived by his daughter Carol Fleming, OP; sister Kathleen Olsen of Lebanon, NH; sisters-in-law Muriel Basnett of Grimsby, ON, Sonnie Fleming of Sarnia, ON, Winnie Fleming of Comox, BC, and Betty Moning of Flat Rock, MI; brothers-in-law Gerald of Chatham ON, Murray of Trenton, MI, and Leo Moning of Hamilton, ON, and many nieces, nephews, and their children. He's been the Fleming patriarch at family reunions for the past 25 years. Bert cherished the spiritual support and comfort that St. Theresa Parish provided for the last seven months of his life. The Eucharistic liturgy and rite of committal (St. Francis Cemetery) was on Wednesday, June 13 at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix. Memorials are suggested for Boys Hope Girls Hope (3443 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012 or 1100 N. Laramie, Wilmette, IL 60091), Regina Dominican College Prep (708 Locust Rd., Wilmette, IL 60091) or the Adrian Dominican Ministry Trust (1257 Siena Heights Dr., Adrian, MI 49221). Arrangements by Messinger Indian School Mortuary. Published in the East Valley Tribune on 6/10/2007.