Rosemary Ruth Roberts

Rosemary Roberts, 84, passed peacefully on December 6th after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Throughout every stage of her illness, Rose remained a model of resilience, strength, love, and faith. Her kindness and humor never wavered, and she was a bright presence to all who knew her—quickly becoming a favorite among the staff and visitors at Harbor Point.

Born in a small town in Iowa, Rosemary went on to travel the world as an Air Force wife and mother. She was truly the backbone of her family, always placing her children’s happiness and well-being at the center of her life. Later, she poured that same boundless devotion into her grandchildren, Danielle, Jesse, and Maggie, who brought her immeasurable joy.

Through the many moves required by Air Force life, Rosemary worked tirelessly to help support her family while pursuing her accounting degree—studying late into the night and persevering through transfers and lost credits. After eight years of determination, she proudly earned her associate’s degree in accounting. Hard-working, diligent, and tenacious, she found great fulfillment in her career as a bookkeeper at Norwich Toggs in Sandwich and later at Wilkins and DeYoung in Hyannis, forming many lasting friendships along the way.

Rosemary was also a gifted, self-taught baker, cook, seamstress, and needlepoint enthusiast. Though she often believed she “could have done a little better,” her family and friends knew otherwise—her creations were treasured, each one filled with love. From the mittens and sweaters she knit, to the dresses and beautiful prom gown she mastered, to the much-anticipated college care packages filled with homemade treats, everyone looked forward to being on the receiving end of Rose’s many talents.

She took tremendous pride in her independence and embraced her life on Cape Cod, where she enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends, working in her yard, planting flowers, and shoveling snow on days when she surely should not have been shoveling. Her home and pets were her sanctuary, cared for with the same devotion she showed the people she loved.

Rosemary is survived by her two children, Jeff Roberts and his companion, Nicole DeNisi, of Forestdale, Massachusetts, and Margo Newcombe and her husband, John Newcombe Jr., also of Forestdale. She leaves behind her beloved grandchildren: Danielle Newcombe and her husband, Jack Enos, of Yarmouth, along with their children, Jack Jr. and Adam; and Jesse Newcombe and his wife, Meghan (Barowski) Newcombe, of Plymouth, and Maggie Roberts of Falmouth.

Her family was her greatest joy, and she leaves all of us with the gift—and gentle challenge—of carrying on her legacy of kindness, grace, and forgiveness. As William Wordsworth wrote, “The best portion of a good person’s life is their little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.” The best way to honor Rosemary is to continue sharing that same kindness in our own lives, just as she always did.

A celebration of life is planned for the new year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rosemary’s name to the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center (www.alzfamilysupport.org). This group works tirelessly to support families and caregivers, providing them with the tools, resources, and a hug when needed, to navigate this difficult and challenging journey.