Eleanor Kennedy Roberts, 95, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, October 14, 2018 in the comfort of her home at Springmoor Retirement Community. Born on June 25, 1923 in Kirkwood, NJ, she was the only child of the late Frances Xavier Kennedy and Edna Brewin Kennedy, and the wife of the late William John Roberts.
She was raised on a farm in a vibrant household with her grandparents, parents, and her mother’s three young brothers. In the fall of 1941 she became a student at Juniata College in Pennsylvania. Women were encouraged during World War II to major in the sciences and graduate early, and she thus majored in chemistry and graduated in three years. She worked as a chemist in Philadelphia where she met William (Bill) Roberts, whom she married in 1948. She gave birth to a son, John, in 1950, and a daughter, Wendy, in 1956. Her husband was transferred to Charlotte, NC, and the family relocated from New Jersey to North Carolina in the mid-1960s. She attended Central Piedmont Community College for a year and a half studying statistics and computer programing. Eleanor went on to have a 20-year career as a computer programmer, including many years working for AT&T, before retiring.
She loved reading, jigsaw puzzles, and flowers; and was adept at virtually all the needle arts including sewing, needlepoint, embroidery, hardanger, knitting, and crocheting. Most of all she loved her family and friends, and was a devoted Christian.
She is lovingly remembered by her two children: John Roberts and wife Beth Roberts, of Chapel Hill and Wendy Roberts and husband Tom Asbury, of Bozeman, Montana; grandchildren: Bryce Roberts and wife Li Qi, Lydia Roberts and husband Ethan Shepherd, Eleanor Asbury and Scott Asbury; and one great-grandchild: Avelina Roberts.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 2 pm in the Auditorium of Springmoor Retirement Community. Family will receive friends following the service in the Terrace Room.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Doctors Without Borders, 40 Rector St 16th floor, New York, NY 10006; or the Springmoor Endowment Fund, 1500 Sawmill Road, Raleigh, NC 27615.
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