Marion Risdon Roberts

Marion Risdon Roberts of Concord, MA died peacefully on November 14, 2014 at Concord Health Care Center surrounded by members of her family. She was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts on January 1, 1920 to Marion Edith (Hoyt) and Silas Frank Risdon. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, Norman Noyes Roberts, her sister Valerie Risdon Burt, and brothers Robert Hoyt Risdon and Albert Victor Risdon. She is survived by her children Martha Roberts of Montpelier, Vermont; Susan Roberts of Tucson, Arizona; David Roberts and his wife Leise of Morrison, Colorado; Deborah Roberts of Oro Valley, Arizona and Sandwich, Massachusetts; and Laurie Roberts Belton of Concord, Massachusetts. She also leaves behind 7 grandchildren: Jennifer Roberts, DVM, of Morrison, Colorado, Christopher Roberts of Gold Beach, Oregon; Brian Tevens of Tempe, Arizona; Catherine Risdon Roberts of Santa Monica, California; Daniel Roberts of Longmont, Colorado; Samuel Belton of Hempstead, New York; and Jonathan Belton of Concord, Massachusetts in addition to several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Roberts graduated from Medford High School in Medford, Massachusetts in 1938 and then received an R.N. degree from Symmes-Arlington School of Nursing in Arlington, Massachusetts in 1940. She was a long-time member of the First Congregational Church of West Brookfield, Massachusetts and in later years regularly attended the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Concord, Massachusetts. While living in Plaistow, New Hampshire, Mrs. Roberts established and ran the first school lunch program at Pollard Elementary School. After moving back to Massachusetts in 1957 she became active in Girl Scouts of America, serving as a troop leader and regional coordinator for many years. She also served on the West Brookfield School Committee and Quaboag Regional School Committee for almost 20 years. Her contributions to the West Brookfield Congregational Church were many: she was both President and Treasurer of the Martha Guild, Superintendent of the Sunday School, and chair of the annual Flea Market. She was active in organizing many Red Cross blood drives in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts. She worked for several years as an R.N. at the Weight Loss Clinic in Worcester, Massachusetts. After retiring in 1990, she conducted monthly blood pressure screenings at the Senior Center in West Brookfield, and, after moving to Concord in 1997, volunteered in the infusion room at Emerson Hospital where she was honored as a 500+ hour volunteer.

She was a tireless volunteer for church and civic activities throughout her life and was happiest when surrounded by members of her large and loving family. Her children will always remember her as a model of independent thought, determination and devotion to family, church and community. She was always delighted to be around children, especially her grandchildren who adored and admired her. She was deeply loved and will be sorely missed.

Family and friends gathered for Marion's life celebration on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at 11:00 am in the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord.

Gifts in her memory may be made to:
The First Congregational Church of West Brookfield
36 North Main Street
West Brookfield, MA, 01585
or
The Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts
81 Gold Star Boulevard
Worcester, MA, 01606.