Roberta Bruso

1937 - 2023

Roberta was born in Bennington, VT, and spent her youth in Bennington and Shaftsbury. She started school at the Cora B. Whitney school in Bennington and finished her primary schooling in Shaftsbury.

She graduated in 1954 from North Bennington High School. At 16 years of age, Roberta met her future husband, Paul Bruso, where he attended cross-town Bennington High.

After graduating from high school, Roberta attended Castleton State Teachers College for a year. She married Paul in June of 1955 after that first year of college. They moved to Schenectady, NY for Paul's work with General Electric. Their first son, Dennis, was born in the summer of 1956. Later, in 1958, Paul transferred to General Electric in Burlington, VT. The young family moved to Williston. Their daughter, Dennise was born in 1958. The couple purchased their home in Essex Center in 1961. In 1963 their second son, Dustin was born to complete the family.

Roberta had a number of names she answered to, depending on who was calling or what kind of trouble she had got herself into, including Tootie, Toots, Baby, Bobby Socks, and later on Granmom. But the name most people knew her by was Bobby.

In Bobby's youth, she participated in 4H. She took tap dancing lessons and became an accomplished saxophonist, even attending the VT All-State Music Festival as a sax player. In the early and mid1960s, Bobby was a member of the Ladies Outlook Club. Each year the club hosted a fashion show where she was one of their runway models.

Paul and Bobby liked to travel when they could. With Bobby's fear of flying, they always drove. Trips included Michigan in a homemade camper, far northern Quebec, Texas, Florida, Prince Edward Island, and many, many other destinations. They also liked boating and fishing. Her the boating. Him the fishing.

Bobby liked playing Muggins and knitting. She eventually became known as Bobby Socks for all the knitted socks she made and sold. Wednesday evening was for playing cards. The neighborhood ladies took turns hosting their card games.

When grandchildren came along, Bobby decided that she was not going to be called Grandma, Nana, or anything else common. She coined the term Granmom. It was a little less intimidating to her than Grandma. After all, she wasn't old enough to be a grandmother anyway.

Bobby was predeceased by her husband, Paul (2016), her parents, and her in-laws. She leaves behind her son, Dennis (Wendy) of Addison, daughter Dennise of Bennington, and son Dustin (Leslie Ann) of Essex. Also, her nine grandchildren, listed in age order, Chrystal, Justus, Jolien, Nicole, Jarelle, Bethany, Alicia, Sean & Brandon. She also leaves eight great-grandchildren. Other special people of note are Scott & the Jackson girls and their families.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the UVM staff on Miller 5 and the Oncology unit for the care and consideration given to Roberta during her final days.

Remembrance and celebration of life service will be held at Corbin & Palmer Funeral Parlor in Essex Junction at noon on July 20th, with a private, family internment following. A live stream link for the service can be found at vtfuneralhomes.com.