Roberta Marlene Polinski

With a life well lived, strong and brave, Roberta (Bobbie) Marlene Polinski (nee Kluck) left us on September 29, 2026 to start her next adventure. Survived by her very large and adoring family, Roberta will be greatly missed by her husband of 68 years, Donald and her children Kathryn (Bryan Craig), Michael (Diana), Anne (Darrell Dennahower), Mary Carol (Michael Tibollo), and Elizabeth; her grandchildren, Brianne (Shawn), Adam (Melissa), Joshua (Caitlin), Matthew (Carlie), Hannah (Jonah), Michael, Nicholas (Jessica), Michael (Anderson), Caroline and Jonathan; her great-grandchildren Jaxxon, Ainsley, Axel and Hailey; her godson Daniel, and caring friend and former son-in-law Greg. Roberta also leaves behind her brother Ron, sister Lois, sisters-in-law Mary Anne and Janet, and a large extended family and innumerable friends who became family, in both the United States and Canada. With love and her deep catholic faith, Roberta will join her parents, Anthony and Annette, her brother James, her in-laws Joseph and Selma, her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Herman, Kemis, Joseph and Rita, and her nephews Jeffrey and Todd, along with many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.

Roberta was born March 19, 1937 in Dunkirk, New York, and in June 1972 she, Donald and their growing family moved to Fort Erie, Ontario where they were warmly welcomed into the Fort Erie and St. Michael’s Church communities, and created a joyous and active life. Roberta was most happy to share and express her pride and love for her family, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her beautiful gardens, her country of birth and her adopted country, her Polish American heritage, and of course chocolate. After her kids were grown, Roberta, along with Don, became very involved with the former Fort Erie YMCA as a long-time member, and she joined the YMCA team as a senior’s aerobics instructor. St. Michael’s Church and the YMCA were the places she made many life-long friends, too many to acknowledge here, but know you were all loved.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Shelley & Doug, Vince & Maria, Fr. Patrick Gilmurray, their new friends and staff at The Willows, Dr. Scher, Marty, the incredible nursing staff at Douglas Memorial Hospital, and her care team at the Walker Cancer Clinic.

Roberta had a few wishes regarding her visitation and funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, she would appreciate instead donations directed to Fort Erie SPCA or Fort Erie Hospice. She also requested that everyone wear bright colors for the services.

And in the words of her favorite artist, “Oh someday girl, I don’t know when, we’re gonna get to that place where we really wanna go and we’ll walk in the sun”, Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will take place at Benner Funeral Services, 1105 Benner Avenue, on Saturday, October 3rd from 10-11:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 12 pm at St. Michael’s Church, 310 Central Avenue, Fort Erie.