Longtime state Right to Life director Julia Schmit-Albin dies at 63

    LINCOLN–Julia Schmit-Albin, 63, the executive director of Nebraska Right to Life since 1989, died Aug. 22, 2020, at her home in Lincoln, following a long struggle with breast and then ovarian cancer.
    Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 27 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Lincoln. Burial followed at the Calvary Cemetery in Lincoln. Butherus, Maser and Love was in charge of arrangements
    Born the fourth of 10 siblings in 1956 to Loran and Irene (Squire) Schmit, Mrs. Schmit-Albin grew up on the family farm near Bellwood and graduated from David City High School in 1974 before going on to study journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, from which she graduated in 1979. 
    She married John Albin on June 28, 1980, in Bellwood. They lived in Lincoln the majority of their married life, raised four children, and were active members of Blessed Sacrament parish.
    She was best known for her longstanding dedication to the pro-life movement, serving as the executive director of Nebraska Right to Life from 1989 until the time of her death. She helped to support a generation of pro-life candidates at all levels of government while assisting in the advancement of numerous pieces of pro-life legislation through the Nebraska Unicameral and coordinating the annual Nebraska Walk for Life. In recognition of a lifetime of achievement on behalf of the pro-life cause, she was awarded the Nebraska Catholic Conference’s Gospel of Life Award in 2019, and Governor Pete Ricketts declared Aug. 13, 2020, “Julie Schmit-Albin Day” in the state of Nebraska.
     While she was “fearfully respected” on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature, at home she could be found compulsively baking brownies, dancing to disco music, and planning her next family get-together. She sewed innumerable outfits, costumes, curtains, and blankets for her children. She enjoyed taking road trips with her family throughout Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, Missouri, and Minnesota.
    Survivors include her husband, John; son, John Squire Albin of Boston; one grandson; daughters, Molly of Chicago, Rachel of Minneapolis and Annie of Lincoln; stepdaughter, Tanya Fox-Albin of Lincoln; father, Loran Schmit of Bellwood; siblings, Marcia Schmit and Michael Schmit, both of Mesa, Ariz., Steve Schmit of David City, Mary Schmit of Chandler, Ariz., John Schmit of McKinney, Texas, Michele Schmit of Bellwood, Susan Schmit of Tacoma, Wash., Jean Hopwood of Orlando, Fla., and Lorin Dunlop of Lake Oswego, Ore.
    She was preceded in death by her mother, Irene (Squire) Schmit.
    Memorials are suggested to Nebraska Right to Life, Blessed Sacrament School, and the Pius X High School Music Department.