Roberta Briere

FISKDALE  -  Roberta Ethel (Gibb) Briere, 78, of 50 Arnold Road, died December

 13, at St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester with her family at her side.

   She leaves her husband of 52 years, Robert J. Briere and three children, Gerald, his wife Susan of Wales, Laurie Kubik and her husband Thomas of Chelmsford and Daniel Briere and his wife Heather of Holland, four loving grandchildren, Paul and William Kubik, Robert James Briere and Andrew. She also leaves a sister Marion Gibb (Marshall) Winter and her husband Charles Winter of Cumberland, Rhode Island

and a brother William W. Gibb and his wife Carolyn of Florence, Ma., along with several nieces and nephews.

   Roberta was born in Charlton, the daughter of William and Beatrice (Daniels) Gibb. Her childhood days were spent living in the Westville Village of Sturbridge. She attended Sturbridge Schools and graduated from Mary E. Wells High School, Southbridge. She was also a graduate of the Cooley-Dickinson School of Nursing in Northampton. Her studies there took her to Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. After graduation she worked at Harrington Memorial Hospital, Southbridge; Rockville City Hospital, Rockville CT ; a Health Care Supervisor for Catholic Charities, Worcester and also as a Board of Health Inspector for the Town of Sturbridge.

      Her volunteer effort was through the American Cancer Society as a driver for patients, a charter member of the Sturbridge Lioness Club having served in all the club offices, she served as the first president of the Sturbridge Firefighters Benefit Association Auxiliary and as a weekly worker at the Southbridge Food Pantry. Before her marriage she was a member of the United Methodist Church in Southbridge and sung in its choir. She was a 52 year member of the Sturbridge Federated Church, served as a choir member at Central Baptist Church where her husband was organist, a member of its Women’s Fellowship and Sunday School teacher. Her largest contribution to Sturbridge was the writing, editing and publishing a cookbook for the Town’s 250^th Anniversary in 1988. She spent many hours with her husband helping research Sturbridge history and locating historic markers throughout Massachusetts.   

      She worked and researched much of the Gibb, Daniels family genealogy. Among her hobbies were gardening, sewing, singing, camping, traveling and “always helping others whenever I can”.  Her bright smile and disposition made her a joy to be around and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

      Calling hours will be 3:00PM to 7:00PM on Wednesday Dec. 16 in Belanger-Bullard  Funeral Home, 51 Marcy Street, Southbridge . A funeral service will take place at 10:00AM Thursday Dec. 17, in the Sturbridge Federated Church, Maple Street and Rt. 131, Sturbridge. Burial will follow in North Cemetery.                

      At her request, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St. Framingham, Ma. 01701 or the Sturbridge Federated Church PO Box 193, Sturbridge, Ma. 01556

An online guestbook is available at www.BelangerFuneralHome.com.