Respect and honor for Alberta Loos

By John Cai

In 1992, our family moved from China to Cape Girardeau. We could not speak English. We were concerned about how we would get along in the United States without knowing how to communicate in the English language.

When it came time to enroll my son in the Cape Girardeau school system, we did not know where to begin. Our situation was nearly hopeless. Without knowing English, even shopping was difficult.

My cousin, Peter, was the owner of the Golden Dragon restaurant. He put us in contact with the Adult Learning Center. From there, God took over. He sent an angel to us in the form of a retired schoolteacher. Her name was Alberta E. Loos. She was a volunteer at the Adult Learning Center, where she taught English classes in the morning. Many times we would arrive late for class because we lived so far from school, and we had to walk to get there. Mrs. Loos never complained. She often would delay the start of the class a few minutes until we arrived.

She was more than an English teacher. She cared about my family and our lives. Alberta often would ask how we were getting along. She would want to know if we had enough to eat and had enough money.

When we opened the China Palace, she was concerned about our business. She brought many of her friends to eat at our restaurant. Other friends of Alberta would show up and tell us that she had encouraged them to give our restaurant a try. This act of kindness is even more significant when you learn that she had never tried Chinese food until she did so to help our business.

She always did what she could to help our business and was genuinely concerned about our success and the well-being of our family.

Never a meeting would pass that Alberta didn't ask about how she could help us. She called the Southeast Missourian and arranged to have the China Palace featured in an article in the Business section.

Throughout the years she came to the restaurant and continued to teach us English so that we could pass the U.S. citizenship test and become good citizens. For almost 10 years Alberta brought the Southeast Missourian to the restaurant so that we could improve our English and stay informed on current affairs.

Our family milestones were causes for her to celebrate with us. When we became U.S. citizens, she gave each of us an American flag. The birth of our children and all of our birthdays were special occasions that we enjoyed celebrating with her.

When my brother's family and my two nephews arrived from China, Alberta taught them English. With her help, both of my nephews became U.S. citizens.

For over 10 years she was a welcome visitor in our family's home. She was more than a good friend. She was like a family member to us.

We all were saddened when Alberta Loos passed from us recently to be with the Lord. While we will greatly miss her and mourn her passing, we will remember her as a motherly teacher and a godly woman. Perhaps, most of all, we all will always love, respect and honor her.

John Cai is the owner of the China Palace restaurant in Cape Girardeau.