Roberta Anne Clarke

Roberta Anne Clarke, 82, of Auburn, NY, passed away at Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, NJ on Wednesday, January 14th. Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1943, she was the daughter of Francis Robert Perry and Helen Gertrude Dunne.

Roberta, affectionately known as "Bobbe" graduated from Saranac Lake High School in Saranac Lake, NY. She went on to graduate from Alfred University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and joined the Alpha Kappa Omicron sorority. While at Alfred, she met the love of her life in Steven Kenyon Clarke.

Upon graduation, the two married in Plattsburgh, NY in July 1965. After several early moves, the couple settled in Auburn, New York, where Bobbe continued her nursing career as a home health nurse for the Cayuga County Health Department before going on to work at Auburn Memorial Hospital. Together they raised four children: Steve (Jennifer Ashbrook), David, Gwyn (Max Chang), and Tim (Kristina Marley).

Bobbe was an extraordinary human providing amazing love and tireless support in her role as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend and evangelist within the Auburn Community. She co-founded the LAFF (Lick Arthritis with Flying Feet) Race, an annual community run to raise funds to beat arthritis. She participated in Auburn's Great Race and was an active runner and racquetball player prior to suffering a major neck injury on the shores of Owasco Lake in 1982. Through the power of faith, the support of her church community and her many friends, she recovered and went on to volunteer at local and regional food banks, engage in political activism, teach religious education as a member of the St. Alphonsus parish and participate as an avid member of the Auburn Bridge-o-Rama.

As her children became adults, she enjoyed planning family vacations and providing travel advice, often dreaming of starting a new career as a travel agent. She was so excited to welcome in nine grandchildren, Matthew (23), Kenyon (23), Elliott (21), Katy (21), Owen (21), Aaron (20) Noah (19), Oliver (18), and Aliya (15) and excited to explore the world through their eyes. She shared her love of travel by planning family excursions with her grandchildren. Her favorite was the annual summer week in Lewes Beach, DE with her adult children, their spouses, and all nine grandchildren.

She is survived by her two sisters, Barbara Gauffreau of Ossining, NY, and Jan Riccione of Rochester, NY, her children and their spouses, and her nine beloved grandchildren.

Known for her deep involvement and engagement with her family, friends and community, she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

A small family service will be held Saturday, January 17th at Volk Leber Funeral Home, 789 Teaneck Rd, Teaneck NJ. A memorial service in Lewes Beach, DE will be announced at a later date where her ashes will be spread with those of her late husband, Steve Clarke.