Roberta Katherine Pendleton

Roberta was born on June 26, 1938 in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of the late Henry and Lillian (Mauer) Slezak. She graduated from St. Bernard High School, Bradford PA in 1956 and East Stroudsburg State College, PA in 1960 receiving a degree in Health and Physical Education. Roberta came to Madison in 1960 where she taught physical education and was an athletic coach at Daniel Hand High School for ten years. Here she met her husband of 49 ½ years; the two married June 20, 1964. Roberta and Jerry remained as longtime residents of Madison. After taking some time off from education to raise her children, she returned to teaching at Island Avenue School as an elementary school gym teacher and special education teachers’ aide. A dedicated educator, Roberta worked hard to teach her students respect and discipline. After retiring from teaching, Roberta worked in the community for many years at Madison Optical.

A long time parishioner of St. Margaret’s Church in Madison, Roberta was an active member of the church guild. She was a woman of great faith who attended daily mass and read to her congregation.

Roberta will be remembered as a devoted wife, sister, mom, nana and friend to many, who simply enjoyed being with family and friends. She was a proud mother of five children and nana to thirteen grandchildren and was especially happy when the family was together. Roberta led an active life, always on the go – playing tennis, golf, Bridge and participating in her book club. She also enjoyed her regular routines of joining friends for coffee and lunch. She made friends everywhere she went.

She is survived by her husband Gerald Pendleton Jr., sister Geraldine Lieberman and her husband Herbert Lieberman of Greensboro, NC; her children – Dana Sosensky and her husband Michael of Madison, Gerald Pendleton III and his wife Sarah of Andover, MA, Julia LeBrun and her husband Raymond of Sturbridge, MA, Michael Pendleton and his wife Linda of Clinton, CT and Katherine Doyle and her husband Kenton of West Roxbury, MA; Her grandchildren Melissa, Kelly, Megan, Allison, R.J., Thomas, Matthew, Katie, Elizabeth, Grace, Anne, Cullen and Emeline, her sisters children, Mark Lieberman and Elaine Salas.

There will be calling hours on Thursday, January 2 from 4 – 7 pm at Swan Funeral Home in Madison, CT. A memorial mass will be held on Friday, January 3, 10:00 am at St. Margaret’s Church in Madison, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Smilow Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital Closer to Free Fund - PO Box 7611 - New Haven, CT 06519-0611 or online at http://www.giveclosertofree.org/help.html.