Roberta J. (Strong) Shea, 79, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on January 18, 2026. Roberta was known as Mom (Ma) and Nanny, as well as multiple nicknames, namely “Ro” and “Becky”. Born on September 3, 1946 in Boston, sharing her birthday with her ten-minutes-younger twin sister Alice. Roberta was the loving daughter to the late Gladys (McCabe) and Walter “Lefty” Ross.
After spending her childhood and young adulthood in Southie, Roberta moved to Weymouth, MA, where she raised her four children. Roberta spent most of her career working at the Stop & Shop office in Quincy, until retirement.
Roberta loved spending time with her family, often going on outings to the casino or saying “this is the life” while lounging in the backyard. She took every opportunity to steal her sister’s Bloody Marys and wouldn’t go to a restaurant if they didn’t have Keno. You could always count on Roberta to have the latest edition of Woman’s World, or a similar magazine she would find at the grocery store register. When she wasn’t reading those, she would have a Nora Roberts book or word search in hand.
Roberta is survived by her four children, Kelly Amorim and her husband Mario of Port Charlotte, FL, James Gear of Weymouth, Karen Gear of Abington, and Katie Reed of Hanson; her grandchildren, Ashley O’Sullivan, Katelyn Proverb, Collin Reed, and Calianne Reed; her siblings Alice Phillips and the late Robert Phillips, Patricia Walsh and her husband Michael, Walter “Lefty” Ross and his wife Theresa, Donna Bolles and her husband Gary; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation from 10AM to 12PM on Friday, January 30th at the MacKinnon Funeral Home, located 760 Washington St., Whitman, followed by a memorial service at 12PM.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
760 Washington Street, Whitman, MA 02382

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