Tessie Roberts Obituary (2002)

ELLENTON, Fla., and Winthrop ? Tessie J. Roberts, 74, of Ellenton, Fla., and Winthrop passed away Wednesday, March 13, 2002, at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, Fla. Tessie enjoyed the sunshine, palms, warmth and beautiful beaches of Florida, but her heart and accent belonged to her birth state of Maine, where most of her family resides. And family always came first with Tessie. Her sister, brother, three daughters, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren were the light of her life. Golf was a close second to her family. Over the past five years, she immensely enjoyed working at Woodlands Golf Course, where she golfed with new and old friends alike. So popular was she among its golfers that Woodlands held a tournament in her honor on her favorite day, St. Patrick's Day. She deeply appreciated her Irish ancestry and her mother's migration to America from County Mayo, Ireland. She visited Ireland three times in the last six years. Before she retired, she was a hairdresser and operated Tessie's Hair Fashion in Augusta for 24 years of her 41-year career. Whether working, attending church or being in the Bridge Club, Tessie always made new lifelong friends, laughed easily and often and made others laugh with her, and poignantly touched lives, including those who cared for her in the last days of her life. She practiced the art of unsurpassed generosity and saw humor in everything. She saw only the best in everyone and made each of us feel special. She held a special place in her heart for her 'twin' sister, who is two years younger than she. She was our Wild Irish Rose and we will miss her every day of our lives. She is survived by her three daughters, Donna Webster of Round Rock, Texas, Mary Moody and her husband, Leo, of Winthrop, and Terry Ann Wilson and her husband, David, of Casco; her sister, Mary Martha Coleman of Ellenton, Fla.; her brother, Raymond C. Humes of Baltimore, Md.; her eight grandchildren, Harry B. Webster Jr., Katherine Webster, Leo Charles 'Champ' Moody Jr., Edward J. 'Skip' Moody, Mandy Martha Moody, Sidney Doyle IV, Davey Alan Wilson, and Alana Teresa Wilson; and her four great-grandchildren, Maura Moody, Daniel Patrick Moody, Tessie J. Moody and Samantha Moody. Relatives and friends are invited to visit 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. A concelebrated Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 20 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Winthrhop with the Rev. Gilbert Patenaude and the Rev. Brian Blanchette concelebrants. Burial will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery at a later date and time to be announced.