SWANVILLE – Paula L. Roberts, 58, died May 29, 2011, at home, after eight years of living despite breast cancer and treatments for same. She died surrounded by her family, including her husband of 25 years, Sumner Roberts; her parents, Gonzalo and Holly Leon of Sudbury, Mass.; her sisters, brothers, nephews, niece and two dear friends.
Paula was educated at Putney School, Kirkland College, Antioch New England, Lesley College, and the University of Maine, Orono, in fine arts, environmental studies, and education. She taught at the middle school level for several years in Belfast and Monroe.
She loved working with kids, but struggled with the classroom environment. Out in the woods and fields she excelled in sharing with kids and adults alike her love for plants and animals of all sorts and sizes. Paula was a skilled shepherd and operated Meadowsweet Farm with Sumner. They were early practitioners of intensive grazing, and she had a wide circle of friends at the Belfast and Orono farmers markets, where she sold grassfed lamb and beef. She was instrumental in the creation of the Maine Grassfarmers Network and served on the board of Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association as they made a home for the organization and the Common Ground Fair in Unity. Paula was a singer and member of many singing groups throughout her lifetime. She was choir director for Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast’s choir for its first eight years and a member of Heartsong – hospice singers. Only the spread of cancer around her lungs finally robbed her of her beautiful singing voice. Paula filled many roles at UU Belfast including chair of the church council and the membership committee when it was known as The-Finger-in-Every-Pie-Committee.
The church will hold a memorial service 2 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at First Church, Belfast.