Roberta Anne Gill

Roberta Anne Gill, 86, passed away peacefully on June 4, 2023 at her beloved Cornerbrook where she has lived for almost 58 years. She was the second daughter, of W. Robert and Helen Atwood, born just minutes before her identical twin sister, Jeannine, in Columbus, Ohio.

Bobbi had a full and amazing life. She attended and graduated from St. Mary’s of the Springs (Ohio Dominican University) and enjoyed several years of teaching first and second graders before marrying her husband Bob and turning her focus to caring for her family and their endless menagerie of pets. Her life of learning and endeavors did not stop there. She went back to school when she was in her 40s to obtain her Horticultural degree from the Ohio State University and thereafter, along with a fellow classmate, started a landscaping business where they were the company’s only garden designers, wholesale plant growers, and physical laborers. When she was in her 60s she graduated from Wellstreams to become a Spiritual Director and worked with her clients into last year. In her 70s she became a Dominican Sister of Peace Associate. She was a long-time member of the Women of the Grail. She was an avid reader, an adventurer, an artist, a poet, a master gardener, a beekeeper, a goat and llama herder, a mentor, a teacher, a bike rider, a spiritual director, a volunteer, a mother, a sister and friend to many.

Bobbi loved Willie Nelson, Luciano Pavarotti, Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, Peter O’Toole, the Ohio State Fair, Christmas trees with lots of white lights, mandalas, chenille blankets, stuffed animals, foraging in the woods, Ohio farmland, muddy creeks, apple trees, fresh Ohio tomatoes, hostas, flowers, shaggy dogs, sea turtles, the frogs in her pond, ice cream and anything chocolate (not necessarily in any particular order).

Bobbi loved to gather with her friends to paint, to pick berries, to read poetry, to make wreaths, to pray and to just sit in companionship under her giant Christmas tree. She believed that everyone could create and was exceptional in leading retreats to guide others in finding their inner creativeness and centeredness through art spirit sessions. She always said she was never happier than when she had her bare hands in the dirt of a garden.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her twin sister, her brother Ron and furry and feathered beings too many to count. She is survived by her big sister, Theresa (Jim) Fitzgerald, her daughters and son-in-laws, Jennifer and John Sauter and Beth and Tim D’Angelo, 4 beloved nieces and their families and her special companions Bartholomew, Belinda and Bartelby.

She leaves behind many, many, many friends for whom she was eternally grateful for their unwavering love, companionship, support and kindness throughout her life and over her last days, including Margaret Chapin whose quiet consistent companionship enabled her to realize her final wish to remain at Cornerbrook to her final day.

Many helped in Bobbi’s care over the past year.

Anne Elshoff and Adele Dodge, Bobbi’s spirit daughters, left their families and put their own lives on hold at least one night a week to provide calming overnight familial care for Bobbi for eight months. They picked up special orders of food, they took her out to her garden, they watched movies and listened to hours of Willie Nelson with her.

Gail Greenly from Ohio Living provided for all of Bobbi’s health care needs. Words cannot begin to express our gratitude for this angel. Gail began caring for Bobbi when she was first released from First Community back in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. We didn’t even get to see her beautiful smile until 2021! She took on the task of being Bobbi’s hospice nurse to be with her and help her with her final journey. She was Bobbi’s nurse first but they developed a deep and caring friendship.

Not enough can be said about the care and tenderness Charity Price, Chasity Price, Mariama Grace Koker, Mitzie Toomer, Nautica Liles and Robyn Gorell from Assisting Hands provided Bobbi. They worked 12 hour shifts, tended to all of Bobbi’s needs (which was a challenge to say the least!). They made her Co-Co Wheats, grilled cheese sandwiches and creamed corn beef over toast. They held her hand; they comforted her when she was afraid and in pain. They blew bubbles with her; they sang and prayed with her. They celebrated Christmas, New Years and Easter with her.

Bobbi’s neighbors, The Douglases, have been there every step of the way all hours of the day for years -from helping her keep up Cornerbrook, making the house accessible, administering medications, mowing the grass and sitting quietly with her. They are the epitome of what a neighbor should be.

Ellen Grinsfelder became Bobbi’s personal secretary managing the many visits that Bobbi was able to enjoy.

All of these wonderful individuals cared for Bobbi as if she was their own mother. They made her last days enriched and as comfortable as possible. Jen and Beth would not have been able to do this without them. Each of them will forever be in our hearts and in our family.

Per Bobbi’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Dominican Sisters of Peace (oppeace.org); The Spirituality Network (spiritualitynetwork.org) or a charity of your choice.

The family will receive visitors: June 8, 4-7 p.m. Schoedinger Norris 4242 Hoover Road, Grove City, OH 43123.

Mass of Christian Burial: June 9, 11:00 a.m. The Chapel of Christ the King 1250 Sunbury Road, Columbus, OH 43219. Drop off is available in front of the Chapel. Parking across the street.