Jacqueline Bentley Roberts

Jackie was born on May 15,1934 at home in Niantic, CT. She was the daughter of Charles Elmer Bentley and Lenorah Eldier LaChance Bentley.

She started school in Niantic, and in second grade, transferred to the Old Lyme School where she graduated in 1952.

After graduation, she worked at Hartt College of Music in Hartford, CT from 1952 to 1960. She met and married Gordon Sampson Smith, then an instructor at Hartt, and later had a son, Jeffrey, and daughter, Peri.

After her divorce, she married Douglas James (Jim) Roberts, MD of Manchester, CT in June 1971. Along with Jim came three wonderful daughters from his previous marriage: Lorraine Stockwell, Wendy Mohr and Linda Stratton.

Her work places varied: A transcriptionist at Manchester Memorial Hospital, where she met Jim; a secretary and assistant to Dr. Ronald Cooke, a pediatric surgeon; a secretary to Dr. Edward Swain, a psychiatrist, and finally, a secretary to Francine Cornaglia, a CPA.

Jackie was predeceased by her three brothers,Bernard E. Bentley, Charles W. Morris, and George Bentley, and two sisters, Lillian R. Brodeur and Marion B. Miner.

Reading was her ultimate joy. She loved the Book Barn in Niantic. Boston Red Sox was another passion. With their World Series wins, there was much joy in Mudville! The UCONN men's and women's basketball teams were a constant delight and much anticipated. Crossword puzzles were her favorite pastime, most especially the New York Times Sunday crossword. These puzzles were a contest with a similarly enthusiastic friend, Mary Beth Comp, who also predeceased Jackie.

Jackie will be dearly missed by her eleven grandchildren, who all relished in the quiet moments they had with her, whether out at The Farm or at Family Pizza. She enjoyed going to lunch and the Norma Terrace Theater or the movies with her stepdaughters. Jackie was a leader, and as a member of the Board of Directors at the Lyme's Senior Center, she fulfilled many roles. The community she helped build there was a true joy joy in her life. Jackie was admired for her generous, loving spirit, and her passionate, powerful voice. She had a firm belief of what was right in the world and defended it with care. Animals had a special place in her heart, and she has many full photo albums of showing glimpses of the bonds she held with her many pets and grand dogs. Among all of Jackie's passions, civic engagement may have been her greatest. To all who knew her, Jackie was the most politically aware in the room, and to debate her was to be humbled.To Learn from her was a gift. To know her was to love her. To honor Jackie, please, always vote.

Jackie reluctantly leaves her son and daughter, many nieces and nephews, her three stepdaughters and their husbands, her eleven grandchildren and their spouses, and four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation, whether monetarily or in goods or services, to Passion 4 Paws in Dayville, CT, the wonderful rescue where her current granddog, Shae, came from.

A private celebration for Jackie will be held with family at The Farm, and a private internment with be held with her son, Jeffrey, and daughter, Peri, at a later date.