Roberta Jean "Friar" Hayes

Roberta Hayes
Our precious Mom and Grandma passed away on Thursday, July 24th, 2025 surrounded by loving family and friends. She was born January 7th, 1936 in Jefferson County to the late Louis "Jack" and Goldie (Kniffen) Friar. Roberta married her best friend and the love of her life, Harold G. Hayes, on August 4th, 1951. They had a loving and supportive marriage for 58 years until Harold's passing in 2009.
Roberta raised 3 children–DeWayne, Karyn, and Robyn–guiding them with her love, wisdom and patience. Family was the entirety of her world. Her love was felt through her abundant generosity of spirit and the consistent time she devoted to her loved ones every day. Her support was unsurpassed in everything she did from daily phone calls, shopping trips, vacations and the thrill of the hunt in garage sales and taking care of her little dogs. Roberta was an avid reader. She shared her love of reading with her grandson, Dylan, who continues the tradition of sharing the deep and enduring love of reading with others. Roberta's nal gift of reading came in the form of a family book club, which she shared with Dylan and her daughter, Robyn.
Roberta enjoyed many outdoor adventures with her grandson, Eythan, in his garden and watching his chickens. She was overjoyed to become a great-grandmother to Eythan's daughter, Charlotte Rayne. Roberta was able to share 7 months with her great-granddaughter experiencing the joys of a beautiful new life.
Roberta was devoted to her family and our Lord, and held dear the values of family, generosity towards others, and an open heart and mind to all of those who were blessed to meet her. Many describe her as "the rock of the family." Close family members relied on her life's wisdom to help them through hard times. She was always there to support you whether you needed a kind ear, honest advice, or a sweet southern phrase to make you laugh.
Roberta cherished her friendships. She remained in contact with her childhood friends throughout her life and developed strong and loving new friendships in every stage of life. Roberta was a loving mother survived by her daughter Robyn Hayes; proud grandmother to grandsons Dylan and Eythan Pencakowski; daughters-in-law Hannah "Star" Hyams and Aviana Rivera, and great grandmother of Charlotte Hayes; loving aunt to nephews and nieces Randy and Rick Casey; Tammy Rehbock, Tiffany Watts and their families; special friend of Ed and Mary Fadziejewski and Sandy Langer; along with many other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by two children DeWayne and Karyn Hayes; brother Gale Robert Friar; son-in-law Charles "Chief" Pennington; nephew Brandon Rehbock; and niece Mandy Casey. Her younger sister Alberta (Friar) Lagrone met the Lord with Roberta ve days after Roberta's passing.
Visitation will be held at Anderson Memorial Home Friday, August 1st from 3pm - 8pm at 21131 W. Renwick Road, Plain eld IL with services to follow Saturday, August 2nd, 10am.
Second visitation for Roberta will be held at Johnston Funeral Home in Ina, Illinois Sunday, August 3rd from 10am - 2pm with funeral service immediately following at 2pm with the Rev. Mike Kniffen of ciating. Burial will follow at Hams Grove Cemetery in Belle Rive, IL.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.johnstonfuneralhome.com