Roberta Pendleton, Longtime Madison Teacher, Dies at 75

Obituary published courtesy of Swan Funeral Home of Madison.
 
Roberta Katherine Pendleton, 75, of Madison, beloved wife of Gerald (Jerry) Pendleton, passed away peacefully on Dec. 22, 2013, at Yale New Haven Hospital. She was surrounded by her husband and children.

Roberta was born on June 26, 1938, in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of the late Henry and Lillian (Mauer) Slezak. She graduated from St. Bernard High School, Bradford, Pa., in 1956 and East Stroudsburg State College, Pa., in 1960, receiving a degree in Health and Physical Education.

In 1960 Roberta came to Madison, where she taught physical education and was an athletic coach at Daniel Hand High School for 10 years. Here, she met her husband of 49 and-a-half years; the two married June 20, 1964.

Roberta and Jerry remained as longtime residents of Madison. After taking some time off from education to raise her children, she returned to teaching at Island Avenue School as an elementary school gym teacher and special education teachers' aide.

A dedicated educator, Roberta worked hard to teach her students respect and discipline. After retiring from teaching, Roberta worked in the community for many years at Madison Optical.

A longtime parishioner of St. Margaret's Church in Madison, Roberta was an active member of the church guild. She was a woman of great faith who attended daily mass and read to her congregation.

Roberta will be remembered as a devoted wife, sister, mom, nana and friend to many, who simply enjoyed being with family and friends. She was a proud mother of five children and nana to 13 grandchildren, and was especially happy when the family was together.

Roberta led an active life, always on the go – playing tennis, golf, Bridge and participating in her book club. She also enjoyed her regular routines of joining friends for coffee and lunch. She made friends everywhere she went.

She is survived by her husband, Gerald Pendleton Jr.; a sister, Geraldine Lieberman and her husband, Herbert Lieberman of Greensboro, N.C.; her children, Dana Sosensky and her husband, Michael of Madison, Gerald Pendleton III and his wife, Sarah of Andover, Mass., Julia LeBrun and her husband, Raymond of Sturbridge, Mass., Michael Pendleton and his wife, Linda of Clinton, and Katherine Doyle and her husband, Kenton of West Roxbury, Mass.; her grandchildren, Melissa, Kelly, Megan, Allison, R.J., Thomas, Matthew, Katie, Elizabeth, Grace, Anne, Cullen and Emeline; and her sisters children, Mark Lieberman and Elaine Salas.

There will be calling hours on Thursday, Jan. 2 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Swan Funeral Home in Madison. A memorial Mass will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, at St. Margaret's Church in Madison. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Smilow Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital Closer to Free Fund, PO Box 7611, New Haven, CT 06519-0611 or online at http://www.giveclosertofree.org/help.html.