BANGOR – Bunny Roberts, 78, beloved wife of the late Justice David G. Roberts, died peacefully June 13, 2005, at home in Bangor surrounded by her loving children. She was born Rose Marie Downie, June 14, 1926, in Houlton, the daughter of Arlie and Betty Downie. Bunny moved to Fort Fairfield with her sister, Kay, and then to Scituate, Mass. to stay with family friends during the depression. She returned to Fort Fairfield for her freshman year in high school and then moved to Saint Joseph’s College in Portland where she earned a teaching degree. Bunny taught English in Fort Fairfield before starting her lifelong career as wife and mother. She was married to husband David for 48 wonderful years and enjoyed supporting him and his work on the Maine Supreme Court. Together they raised seven children. Throughout her life she continued to mother and nurture all the neighbor kids, her children’s classmates, and her many nieces and nephews. Weekends would find Bunny, David and the kids enjoying time together skiing, hiking, or exploring the backroads of Maine. She was an avid reader and crossword puzzle solver. She was famous for her incredible lasagna and mocha brownies. She is survived by her children, Michael Roberts and his wife, Joan, of Bangor, Mary White and her husband, Blaine, of Langhorne, Pa., Dot Lamson and her husband, Don, of Wiscasset, Sally Roberts Finnegan of Mukilteo, Wash., Joe Roberts and his wife, Laura, of Evansville, Ind., Susan Roberts of Riverview, Fla.; her siblings, Kay Scott of Methuen, Mass. and Phil Downie of Concord, N.H.; six grandchildren, Cheryl White, Caitlin and Kelly Finnegan, Alyson and Alec Roberts and Jaelin Roberts; and beloved aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, David; her daughter, Cathy; and her sister, Jean. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 17, 2005, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 754 Ohio St., Bangor, with the Rev. Thomas Lequin, pastor, celebrant. For those who wish, gifts in her memory may be made to the Ronald McDonald House, 654 State St., Bangor, ME 04401. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor.
ROSE MARIE ‘BUNNY’ ROBERTS
