Robert Grace Reeves DeMaris, 86, of Cherry Hill, NJ passed away peacefully on Friday January 5, 2019 at Paoli Hospital from pneumonia with her daughters and granddaughter by her side.
The only child of Robert R. Reeves and Hazel Milton Reeves, Roberta grew up in Rochester, NY, was a graduate of John Marshall High School and attended SUNY Brockport College to study Elementary Education. She also studied piano and ballet at the Eastman School of Music.
Roberta met her husband, Furman A. DeMaris while in college at a square dance while he was visiting the campus. The two were married following graduation and moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming for his work in the Air Force. Here she had their first child, Sheri-Lynn. Shortly, thereafter they returned to live in Cherry Hill, NJ where she raised her three other children: F. Scott, Lauren Sue and Peter Glen DeMaris. Roberta remained married for 57 years until Furman passes on January 14, 2014. Roberta also enjoyed keeping in touch with all of her grandchildren: Peter Jr., Matthew, and Nicole DeMaris, as well as Evan and Christina Megargel. She also enjoyed being an aunt to Frank Widmann and Liz Spona-Widmann.
Roberta always loved Rochester, NY and the nearby lake where she grew up. She stayed connected with her close friends who still reside there and was diligent in sending letters and cards and visiting for reunions.
Throughout her years as a housewife, Roberta served as a secretary for the school PTA, a substitute classroom teacher as well as a private tutor. She also served on the Camden Day Nursery Board. In her early 50's, after the children had grown up, she returned to the work force as a receptionist at Cadbury, Retirement Home. She enjoyed meeting and greeting the residents and would often go above and beyond her duties attending their family functions and funerals. She retired after 25 years.
Roberta had a great love of animals and once her husband died she purchased a Jack Russell she named Jack Robert. She would frequent the dog park and became friends with all the other dog owners. She had such a loving heart in life and had the highest regard for the elderly, young teenagers, gardens and flowers. She loved to read, shop for bargains and buy Christmas presents in July. She also loved classical music and was a faithful listener and contributor to WRTI radio station. She would light up listening to anything relating to church choir music and in her later years joined the Surry Services Choir and sang in their concerts.
Roberta will be truly missed by those she has met throughout her lifetime. She served as a true role model of how to live life with an open heart and has been a true inspiration to us all.
In Lieu of Flowers
Memorial donations maybe made to:
The United Methodist Church of Haddonfield
29 Warwick Road
Haddonfield, NJ 08003
Surrey Services Music Program
60 Surrey Way
Devon, PA 19333
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Please join us for a light dinner following the burial at
Chianti Restaurant
127 Bridgeton Pike
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
856-478-4400
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