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1930 Alma 2021

Alma Borm

October 12, 1930 — November 8, 2021

Alma Berta Borm

Alma Berta Borm, 91 of Pasadena died November 8, 2021 at Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD.

Born October 12, 1930 in Naumiestis, Lithuania. She lived through the initial occupation of Lithuania by Russia (1940), then Germany (1941-44) and finally fled the country in 1944 before Russia reoccupied Lithuania. Alma met her future husband, Leopold Borm, in Eutin, Germany and they were married on June 9, 1946.

In 1956 Alma and Leopold, along with their four children, emigrated to the USA to start a new life. They made their home in Pasadena where they added two more children to the family. Alma lived in Pasadena for 65 years.

She worked at Hecht Co./Macy’s in the fine jewelry department and retired in 2014 at the age of 84.

She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Jumpers Hole Road, Millersville, MD.

Alma loved traveling, music, her animals, and most of all her children

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leopold Borm, and daughter Regina Ebersberger.

Survivors include her three sons, Alfred Borm of South Carolina, Leo Borm of Florida and Peter Borm of Maryland; two daughters Brigitte Roswita Kidder of Kansas and Rita Jenny Mosher of Maryland; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church NALC 8615 Ft. Smallwood Road PASADENA  Maryland 21122 (410)255-4141 on Saturday, November 13, 2021 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM. Interment Cedar Hill Cemetery 5829 Governor Ritchie Highway Baltimore, Maryland 21225 (410)-789-0150 Immediately after Church Services.

In lieu of flowers please provide a donation to an animal shelter. Several suggestions are:

Last Chance Animal Rescue 8500 Bensville Rd, Waldorf, MD 20601Phone: (301) 274-9409 Website: www.lastchanceanimalrescue.org OR

Sunshine’s Friends Cat and Dog Rescue PO Box 314 Jessup, MD 20794-0314 Phone: (410) 796-7327 Website: www.sunshinesfriends.org OR

Baltimore Barcs Animal Rescue & Care Shelter 2490 Giles Road, Baltimore, MD 21225 Phone: 410-396-4695 Website: www.barcs.org

Alma Berta Lileikis Borm Memorial


HISTORY:

Alma Berta Lileikis was born on October 12, 1930 to the parents of Alexander Lileikis and Olga (Krause) Lileikis in the western Lithuanian town of Naumiestis.

She lived through the initial occupation of Lithuania by Russia (1940), then Germany (1941-44) and finally fled the country in 1944 before Russia reoccupied Lithuania. Time span was age 9 through 13.

While fleeing the Russian advance at a young age of 13, she and her family along with all other refugees were constantly attacked by Russian air craft. She shared stories of how a German officer advised her father to pack up and leave immediately before a certain bridge was to be blown up to slow the Russian advance. Along with stories of the hardships the family endured during those trying times.

Alma met her future husband, Leopold Borm, in Eutin, Germany.

Mom used to tell me that Leopold would always come over to her father who had cigarettes to share. She said that Dad obviously took a liking to her since she was “beautiful”.

They were married on June 9, 1946, Leopold was 20 years old and Mom was 15 years old.

Leopold at age 17 was taken into the German army and sent to the Russian front to fight. And at the age of 20 he found himself as a refugee in Northern Germany. His family had lost everything during the war as did Mom’s.

Mom was married at the age of 15 and the following year she gave birth to her first son, Alfred – that’s me. By having a child, the local authorities arranged for them to have an apartment. Prior to that having to live in a refugee camp in a Quonset Hut (prefab corrugated galvanized iron shelter).

Mom and Dad then relocated to Oberhausen – Sterkrade, which is located in Germany’ Ruhr area near the Dutch border. There my father worked in the coal mines. I remember that area since it still had areas completely leveled by the British carpet bombing.

Mom had three more children while living in Germany: Regina (3/22/50), Leo (8/11/52), Peter (1/8/56).

She loved children and would have had more than her mother if possible (13).

In 1956 Alma and Leopold, along with their four children (9-6-4-8mos), emigrated to the USA to start a new life. They made their home in Pasadena where they added two more children to the family Brigitte (9/13/57) and Rita (4/23/64). Alma lived in Pasadena for 65 years.

Alma loved traveling, music, her animals, and most of all her children.

TRAVEL

She travelled to Europe, including Lithuania, Canada, Hawaii, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, and throughout continental USA.

I recall that during 1960-1964 having to go to Canada for summer work at a tobacco farm. Mom would have the family work to supplement our income. The Lileikis family had emigrated to Canada and Mom was able to rekindle her ties with her parents and siblings.

My wife Cathy and I, along with our sons Nick and Brandon, had taken mom to Tortola after my dad’s passing. I recall her enjoying the beach and local life style. As always, she went on a “souvenir” buying spree – primarily t-shirts.

During a visit to Montana, where I was working at the time, she scared us to death when exiting my vehicle to get a closer look at a brown bear that was crossing the road in front of us.

Mom being a Lucille Ball fan, while driving in Palm Springs, CA she screamed for me to stop and jumps out of the car. Apparently, she saw a statue of Lucy sitting on a bench and wanted me to take a picture of her sitting next to Lucy.

I’m sure that Brigitte, Bruce, Jay and Lara will miss mom’s annual Thanksgiving visits. Rita, Bret and Holly will miss beach time with mom. I’m sure that mom would have loved to have visited Meghan in New Zealand.

MUSIC / ENTERTAINMENT

Music was always a love of my mother’s. She enjoyed Lithuanian and German music and played it often. Even in her last days at the assisted living facility she played operatic music to forget the pain she was enduring.

She loved going to movies and always looked forward to her children and grandchildren offering to take her to a movie.

Mom also was addicted to television. Her favorite shows were, I Love Lucy and the Price Is Right. She insisted on a 70-inch TV in her small living room and spent many hours watching old movies, the news and I Love Lucy and The Price Is Right. On several occasions, she would get mad at me, when I called, for keeping her from the Price Is Right broadcast.

ANIMALS

Mom had a great love for her animals. It must be in the genes since so many of our family have loving animals.

Her favorites were dogs and cats. I’m most familiar with her most recent dogs, all of whom were Rottweilers – Lucy, Delila and Ziggy. They were her companions after my dad’s passing. Even during her last days with us she insisted that we find good homes for her animals.

FAMILY / CHILDREN

The most important thing in our mother’s life was her family. All of her focus was on taking care of her family. She was very giving and was willing to sacrifice for what was best for the family.

It was very traumatic for her having to leave her family and friends behind in Lithuania and Germany. She told me that she cried for a long time after arriving in the USA. All my father and mother had when they came to the USA were their four children and the clothes they brought with them.

The one room summer cottage that they bought in 1957 housed a family of six with no running water or toilet. Mom had to take care of us while she was pregnant with Brigitte, who was born later that year – 9/13/57.

By 1964, the one room summer cottage had expanded to a six-room home with running water and a toilet with mom being pregnant with child number six, Rita, who was born that year – 4/23/64.

Shortly after vacationing in 1985 on Fripp Island, SC and attending Brandon Borm’s baptism, her loving husband had a debilitating stroke at age 59. Mom was basically his caregiver for the next 15 years until he passed at the age of 75 (12/12/20).

On 6/1/97 Mom lost her beloved daughter Regina to cancer. Regina left behind her husband, Mike and her three children, Mike, Christine and Meghan. Mom was so sad, not only at losing her first daughter, but for her grandchildren who were now without a mother. Mom filled the void that Regina’s passing left and loved Regina’s children not only as her grandchildren but also as a mother figure.

Mom continued working at Macy’s until she retired at the age of 84. She would have continued working if her health would have allowed her to do so.

From that time on Mom was well cared for by her daughter Rita, who sacrificed her job and family time for Mom’s care. Rita often used Doctor Nick Borm for care advice and intervention with ER Doctors and hospitals.

It was also fortunate that her son Peter as well as grandchildren Mike and Christine and son-in-law Bret, lived nearby and were able to assist Mom and contributed to her being able to stay in her home as long as possible.

Mom had a special relationship with all of her grandchildren. I remember her telling me how much she enjoyed Jay Kidders’ visits and being part of Holly Mosher’s life.

We will all miss our mom. Whether it’s the long-distance conversations Brigitte, Leo, Debbie and Jennifer had with mom, the visits made by Peter and Rinko, the hours Rita, Bret and Holly spent with mom and the great times my wife, Cathy and I had visiting and traveling with her. But what we will miss the most is

mom’s 6 AM birthday calls and songs we received annually.

Alma had a very difficult life but the joy of having her family and watching them grow up made it all worthwhile.

She now is without pain and with Regina and Leopold looking after us down here.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alma Borm, please visit our flower store.

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