Roberta C. Brown

Roberta C. Brown died peacefully at home in West Palm Beach, Florida, surrounded by her husband and loving family, on October 16, 2016, at the age of 90. Roberta was born Roberta Harriet Cook on October 10, 1926 in Westfield, New Jersey to Harriet (nee McEwen) and Harold Cook, and was soon joined by her younger sister, Marjorie. Roberta graduated Westfield High School in 1944, and continued her education for two years at the Katherine Gibbs School in New York City then worked as a legal secretary for several years in Manhattan before marrying Howard Harding Brown on April 29, 1949. Before long she had four children, whom she and Harding raised in Westfield, New Jersey, where they themselves had been raised, and where many of their extended family also lived. Roberta was the quintessential homemaker, providing a loving home for her family, caring extensively for others in and out of her family network, and was an exemplary wife and partner to the love of her life, Harding, whom she met when she was sixteen. Roberta was highly intelligent, yet demure and soft-spoken, always quietly fashionable, and ever kind. She served for years at the Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, N.J. both volunteering and as an active board member, and was also very involved with, and president of, the Visiting Nurses Association of Union County, N.J. She enjoyed playing bridge and golf at Shackamaxon Golf and Country Club, handwork, crosswords, reading, and baking. She and Harding were able to travel extensively throughout their marriage, deeply appreciating other cultures. As the years went on, in addition to her four children, Roberta and Harding were blessed with five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They were able to enjoy a summer home in Edgartown, on Martha's Vineyard Island, beginning in 1965, and were active members of the Edgartown Yacht Club and the Edgartown Golf Club. Later still, they purchased a home at the Breaker's West community in West Palm Beach, Florida, eventually splitting their year between Florida and the Vineyard. Roberta leaves her loving husband, companion, and friend of 67 years, H. Harding Brown, West Palm Beach, and Edgartown, along with her children Rande Brown, New York City; Aron Brown(Kim), Bedford, N.H.; Robert Brown, Morristown, New Jersey; and Sharon Gamsby, West Tisbury, Massachusetts; grandchildren Mohawk and Nemo Bolin, Jay and Amanda Brown, and Turner Brown; great-grandchildren Omen and Ziggy Bolin; and her beloved sister, Marjorie Crosby, Whiting, New Jersey. The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to Roberta's dedicated caregivers, Marie Jean-Francois, Gladgine (Gigi) Valbrun, and Norma Payne. We may not see you, but you are with us. Much more than a memory, your love and care remains. We love you completely, and will miss you always. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 4, at 11:00 am: Palms West Funeral Home 110 Business Park Way Royal Palm Beach, FLA 33411 561-753-6004 Internment will follow No flowers please. Memorial donations may be made to: Trust Bridge Health, Hospice of Palm Beach County and Broward County, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407