Catherine Pearl Roberts

ROBERTS, Catherine (Kitty) Pearl – 89, of Halifax, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 6, 2012 in the QEII after a short illness. Born in 1923 in Moncton, she was the oldest daughter of the late Pearl Bruce White (LeBlanc) and Harry Ferris McPherson of Moncton and Spryfield.

Kitty grew up in Moncton and moved to Halifax with her family during the war. Her father, Harry, was a Master plasterer of both domestic houses and historic buildings in Nova Scotia.

She met her husband Kenneth (Huck) Gordon Roberts while working at the Capitol Grocery Store on Agricola Street in North End Halifax. They were married in1946.

Kitty was a selfless woman giving her whole life to helping others. As a young bride, she moved into Huck’s parent’s house on Bilby Street and looked after his ailing parents until their passing. It was in this house that she would spend the rest of her life.

She was a loving and dedicated mother who raised four children. She was the steadfast anchor of the family her whole life. Her interests included family, sewing and reading. She was a science fiction fan and loved the Dr. Who TV series. She was a quiet Christian who gained strength through reading her Bible every evening.

She worked for Dominion Grocery Stores for many years becoming manager of the bakery. She worked at stores on Quinpool Road, Almon & Windsor Streets, Agricola Street and Bayers Road. Later she worked at the Sally Shop on Barrington Street. After retirement she volunteered at Northwood Centre in the gift shop.

Kitty’s family history dates back to some of the oldest in the Maritimes. Her oldest known ancestor arrived in Nova Scotia (Acadia) 100 years before the founding of Halifax. Daniel LeBlanc settled in Port Royal between 1640 and 1649 is her 7th great grandfather.

Annettia Ferguson of Scottish heritage is her maternal grandmother and goes back to John Ferguson born 1796 in Scotland. He immigrated to New Carlisle in northern New Brunswick around 1812.

Marie Delphine Gallant of PEI was her maternal great grandmother. The (Hache) Gallants are one of the oldest Acadian families dating back to the 1600s.

Her paternal ancestors were Ulster Scots. Her grandfather, Paul McPherson, immigrated from Northern Ireland to New Brunswick in 1862 as a child and took up farming in Ammon on Lutz Mountain just outside Moncton.

She was predeceased by her husband Kenneth who passed away in 1986; by her brothers Harry(Manny), Roy(Honey), Thomas(Tommy), Russell(Witsy), and Gerald(Gerry) and by grandson Shane.

She is survived by her daughters Nancy Kimber and Marjorie Roberts and her sons Kenneth and Frank all of Halifax and by her sisters Jean Webster of Herring Cove, Audrey Cullymore of Middle Sackville and Susan Stewart of Dartmouth, 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at J.A. Snow Funeral Home at 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax. The service will be conducted by the Reverend Carson J. Baxter on Saturday, October 20 at 1:00. A reception is to follow immediately. Interment will be with her husband in St. John Cemetery in Fairview.

The family would like to pay a special tribute to her oldest daughter, Nancy, for her selfless and dedicated duty and for being a daughter, friend and soul mate to Kitty in her retirement years.

Please visit: www.jasnowfuneralhome.com