Judith Roberts, SP
July 29, 1940 - November 25, 2016
Obituary
OBITUARY
JUDITH ROBERTS, SP
(Sister Judith Roberts)
Sister Judith (Judi) Roberts, age 76, a Sister of Providence for 23 years, died November 25, 2016, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, WA. Vigil Service: Sunday, December 11, 2016, at 7:00 PM, and Funeral Mass: Monday, December 12, 2016, at 11:00 AM, both at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle. Burial at Calvary Cemetery, Seattle, follows Mass and reception. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Judith Allen was born July 29, 1940 to Richard Allen and Genevieve Sobolik, in Evanston, Illinois, the second of 5 siblings. In January 1963 Judith married Monte Roberts in Toledo, Ohio, and had two children. After a number of years the marriage was annulled.
Judith attended grade school at St. John the Baptist and graduated in 1958 from Central Catholic high school in Fort Wayne, Indiana. From 1958-62 Judi attended Purdue – W. Lafayette College; and 1966-72 majored in elementary education at St. Francis College, both in Fort Wayne. She was also a math teacher while attending St. Francis College. 1975-85 she took professional courses in business and accounting at American Institute of Banking, Fort Wayne, and Eastern University, Roswell, New Mexico. During 1972-91 she was employed as a probate tax accountant, office manager and accounting officer for financial banking institutions and as an accountant for a non-profit organization.
Judith entered the Sisters of Providence in August 1992 in Seattle, WA. She became a novice in August 1993, professed first vows in August 1995 and received the name Sister Judith Roberts. She professed final vows in August 1998.
Sister Judi began her ministry as an outreach minister and bookkeeper in 1994 at the Downtown Chapel’s ministry – MacDonald Center, Portland, OR; in 1995 to mid-1996 she served as a member of the Providence Hospitality House, Seattle.
In preparation for her international ministry, Sr. Judi spent approximately three months in the Fall of 1996 living with a family in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, while attending a Spanish language school program. She returned in November from Mexico and ministered in administration at La Casa Hogar and Casa Guadalupe in Yakima, WA. In 1997 she attended a cross cultural ministry training program in Maryknoll, Chicago, IL. In early 1998 she also studied Spanish for a short time in Bolivia, South America; then in September she began her cross-cultural ministry at La Papalota in El Salvador, Central America, until April of 1999.
In May 1999 Sr. Judi returned to Portland and served there in administration and accounting positions. During 2004-2005 she was a bookkeeper in Great Falls, MT, and Marylhurst, OR, then returned to Portland continuing her ministry until January 2014. In February 2014 Sr. Judi retired and moved to St. Joseph Residence where she enjoyed volunteering there and at Providence Mount St. Vincent assisting and sharing cherished time with patients, staff and her sisters. A favorite hobby of hers was making beautifully handcrafted cards for the sisters, her family and friends who loved receiving them.
Sr. Judi is preceded in death by her parents and brothers Ken Allen and Robert Allen. She is survived by her children, Amanda Grey, Napa, CA, and Terri Davis, Fort Wayne, IN; and brother, Don Allen, Kenmore, WA; sister, Ruthann Martin, Lake Forest Park, WA; and grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
To view Sr. Judi’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at www.bonneywatson.com.
My sister was a devoted servant to the poor, the marginalized, and the shut-ins. She lived her life as a Sister of Providence in solidarity with the poor. Her prayer was this: “Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring your love. Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord. and where there’s doubt, true faith in you.” May she rest in His peace.
My mom, my friend, my confidant. You were always there for me. You would pick me up, dust me off, give me a huge mom hug and make it all better. This was true as a child and as an adult. You are a strong, independent woman, who lived life on her terms and taught me to do the same. I am proud to be your daughter. I love you mommy! I miss you. I will treasure our time together and keep you in my heart. You will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, wrapped in God’s loving grace. I will look for you when my time here is over.
Kathleen
May your spirit rest in the eternal love of the Lord.
May the knowledge that you are at peace be a soothing balm to to the hearts of your dear family.