Roberta Elinor Robusto, affectionately known by many as Bobbie, passed away May 22, 2020 in Palm Bay, Florida from kidney and heart failure. She was born on June 25th, 1933 in New York City, and passed away just short of her 87th birthday.
Roberta was the daughter of Elinor and Joseph Mandra, the oldest of six siblings and is survived by one younger sister, Gail. She was married in 1955 to the love of her life, John L. Robusto in New York City.
She was a graduate of Kings County School of Nursing and had a long career as a nurse in many different areas including pediatrics and psychiatric nursing. Roberta was recognized during her career for excellence, caring, and compassion. She spent the last chapter of her career working with inpatient adolescents in a behavioral health faculty where she helped severely abused children and teens through their psychological trauma. Roberta was known for her ability to connect with and form a bond of trust with people – an eternal mother.
Born and raised in New York, Roberta spent much of her life there. She finished her career in central Florida where she subsequently retired from nursing. However, she went back to work at Walgreens to stay engaged in the community in her senior years.
Throughout her life, Roberta took several children into her home, starting with her younger sister when they were orphaned. She opened her home over the years to help raise other relatives - any child who needed a home. She was loving, generous, and the adopted mother of many.
Roberta had many talents and interests. She was a card-carrying member of the Red Hat Ladies and the Happy “Hookers,” a charity group who knit blankets for newborn babies. She loved to dance with her husband and even won dancing awards.
Roberta was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Palm Bay, Florida and the way she lived her life exemplified her unwavering faith. She had a strong moral compass and her husband would tell anyone who listened that she was wonderful, “a legend in her own time.” A beloved matriarch, her entire family would attest to what a legend she truly was – as a mother, “Nana,” and aunt. Roberta’s only disappointment was outliving her spouse and soul mate. She wasn’t prepared to walk through the tremendous grief she faced in losing John three years ago, after a beautiful, inspiring 63-year marriage.
Roberta was an incredible hostess, and loved cooking, baking, and having her large family to her home for holidays and special events. She had a great fondness for glassware and dishes and was often called the “dish lady.” A family friend genuflects in front of William Sonoma in her honor whenever she passes.
Roberta is survived by her daughters, Linda and Nancy (Jeannine) and her sons, John (Sue) and Thomas (April) and her adopted daughter, Jacqueline (Jake). She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: Lindsay, Ricky, James, John, David, Isabella, Michael, Sophia, Grace, Asher, and Sabrina. She is remembered by many friends from her time in New York as well as Florida, and will be missed by her devoted cat, Pyewacket.
Roberta was smart. She was strong. She had a big heart and she shared it with so many people. Her kindness, compassion, and wisdom will be remembered and cherished.
One of Roberta’s favorite lines was, “You do the best you can with what you got.” She certainly did her “best” and left her family and this world a better place because of it.
Funeral: St Joseph’s Chapel
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery
Funeral Home: Fountainhead Funeral Home
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