Susan Joy Roberts
December 7, 1952 – December 3, 2020
Natick, Massachusetts | 67
Susan Joy Roberts, was born to Walter and Barbara Roberts in Everett, Massachusetts, later moving to Rockland, Beacon Hill, Braintree, and Framingham before settling in Natick. She began her career at the Arthur D. Little Research Laboratory in 1980. She also worked at Kendall International in Mansfield. From 1988 until her retirement in 2014 she worked at Haemonetics Corporation as a Medical Technical Engineer. She was known for precision, an essential quality for working in a medical laboratory; her preciseness led her to hold part of a patent for Haemonetics Cell Saver. She often mentored her colleagues in building their own careers, expecting the best from herself and others. Susan loved her dogs, her home, her boats and fast cars. In spite of her dislike of flying, she traveled to Switzerland, Germany, France, Scotland, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Florida.
Susan had a hard-fought battle with lung cancer for over five years with the help of an extraordinary team of doctors, nurse practitioners, doctor assistants, and many nurses and volunteers at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Susan met Pearl Weinstein in 1986 at a 12-Step recovery meeting, and they became partners in 1987. One of the happiest moments in Susan’s life was getting legally married to Pearl in the summer of 2013, in a ceremony officiated by Judy Cohen.
Susan is lovingly remembered by her wife Pearl; her sister-n-law, Sara; brother-in-law, Scot and his wife Judy; brother-in-law Marc and his wife Sheryl; her sister Paula and husband Frederick; brother George; brother James and his husband Stephen; sister Betty; Robin and her husband Bob; and brother Mark and his wife Maureen and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews. She is predeceased by her mother, Barbara and father, Walter and brother Walter Jr., and mother-in-law, Anna.
Susan was exceptionally loyal to her friends, and in September 1974 she moved to North Carolina, to help her good friend Laurie raise her children. She was wonderfully supportive to Laurie and tremendously nurturing to the children: Corey, Kelly and Charlie. They remain extended family and Susan had a loving relationship with their children.
We have lost a bright light in our lives. Susan’s unwavering loyalty, sense of fun, her energy, and her tremendous generosity brought happiness to her family and friends, and she will be deeply missed.
May her memory be a blessing for us all. Plans for a virtual celebration of her life will be announced in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
450 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215-5450
Or to your favorite cause.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and family Pearl
Susan will be missed by many and I will always remember that smile and feel her warmth that radiated to all.
It was such an honor and privilege to have known and cared Susan and Pearl. I will miss her kindness and her spirit. She fought her cancer with grace and courage.
My favorite memory of Susan is a boat ride
on beautiful Lake Cochituate, exploring the 3 ponds, passing under bridges, through tunnels, enjoying the water, and the day.
I loved Susan’s bright smile, her droll sense of humor, and that whimsical Massachusetts accent of hers.
That she loved Pearl and Kugs, with her whole heart, was self-evident. I’ll remember her kindness as a friend, and her standard question of me, “when you gonna come visit?” Rest in love, Susan.
I have so many fond memories of Susan, it is impossible to choose. Her generosity was amazing. When I moved into my house, she and Pearl got me a barbecue for a housewarming gift. Susan single-handedly put it together , it took her hours! Over the years, Susan was there to lend a hand whenever I needed assistance. She fought incredibly hard against her cancer. Now she is at peace.
Susan fought so hard and long, and will be sorely missed. She will leave a huge hole in Pearl and Kugel’s hearts. May her memory be a blessing.
I will treasure my memories of Susan gracing us with her presence at the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival. Her grin, her sense of humor, her insistence on lending a hand, and her precisely made coffee made a lasting impression on me.
My heart goes out to all those suffering from her loss.
Peace.
Susan made “working in the yard” an art form. I will miss her.
Susan thank you for being part of our family. I feel honored to know you. I will miss your smile the most.
You are in my thoughts so much this week. Susan was a wonderful friend and I feel very grateful to have known her
You are in my thoughts so much this week. Susan was a wonderful friend and I feel very grateful to have known her
Susan was a beautiful person inside and out. I always enjoyed spending time with her, sharing her appreciation for music, sports and life. She was kind and it was a joy to engage in conversation with her. She was a fun person and I never saw her uptight. I can picture her having a nice conversation with my father and both smiling and laughing. She will truly be missed. Love, cousin Robert, Janeane, Tovia and Eliana.
Pearl and family, my condolences for your loss. Susan will always be remembered with fondness and love by our families. May you have peace and comfort during this difficult time.
My condolences on the loss of a wonderful woman. She touched many lives including mine. I always learned something from Susan and she has left me with many fond memories of our times together with our families. She will always be missed for her warm smile and the many gifts of her presence.
Pearl, your Susan was an angel on Earth. Her smile lit up a room, and her kindness and compassion warmed our hearts. Luckily, there are no boundaries for love to travel between Heaven & Earth and back again Your precious Susan will be missed, dearly.
Diane and I are sad to hear of Susan’s passing. Pearl stood by her and fought hard for each day. Susan loved coming over to our lanai in FL The puppies gave her joy. she will always have a space in my heart
Love runs deeply!
Auntie Susan inspired me to take on tasks the the average women did regularly do.
Like building structures, driving a boat in the 3 lakes with out hitting other or the tunnels. Lol..
The summer camp programs.. the robotic arm she would take me and show me was one of soo many mind blowing experiences with my auntie Susan. She will always be alive a soul that powerful..
The dogs to the cars learning how to drive a 5 Speed was all Susan.. smart, loving, tollorent and a overall real hard cord woman! That’s my auntie Susan..
To auntie pearl, Love will keep us together!
The auntie S&P song memory of all-time!
What if G-D was one of us.. just jamming out..
Always alive in our hearts never to be forgotten my auntie Susan J Roberts!
All my love,
SRW
Susan always shed such a bright and wide ray of light into our lives! We loved and remember her for her warm and engaging smile; her pure, down-to-earth personality, completely devoid of any pretense whatsoever; her enthusiasm and vigor; and her wonderful, infections laugh.
A memory which clearly stands out….I wish we had taken a photo. The setting: Pearl & Susan’s garage in their Framingham home. Susan and Marc, with intense concentration, as laser focused as two O.R. surgeons; leaning under the hood, with two large target lamps appropriately clamped, meticulously replacing the alternator in Marc’s white 1986 Toyota Corolla. I almost expected to see their framed medical degrees on the wall!
Susan accurately personified her middle name. She was such a pure joy to know, and we are ever so grateful to have had the privilege to have Susan in our lives.
Although I was only blessed with a few shared moments during Susans 5 year journey, I will always remember that light that is reflected in her smile.
Thinking of you and holding space for you Pearl❤️
Susan was a wonderful person. I remember her beautiful smile lighting up the room. I’ll treasure our memories together. May her memory be a blessing.
Pearl and family, my condolences for your loss.. May you have peace and comfort during this difficult time.Take it day by day focus on those great times spent together, her smile, laughs . Hugs sent to you and family .
May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her and loved her. Rest in peace.
So so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you. Pearl be strong!!
I’m so sorry for your loss; I will always remember when I first met Susan with you at “the party”, and how palpable the connection was between the two of you; those connections are never severed, even by our “ultimate conclusion”; and I know that even with the pain that Susan’s light will never be extinguished in your heart. May her memory always bring you joy.
Pearl, thinking of you during this hard time in your life with the loss of Susan. Remember all the good memories you share with her. She will be sorely missed at Carefree.
My deepest sympathy over Susan’s passing. She was a wonderful woman and I am glad I got to know her. I always looked forward to her visits and our chats. May she rest in peace.
I am so sad to learn about Susan. Our hear felt condolences on the loss of such an amazing women. May you find comfort in the many memories you made together.
Sue was a good soul. Fiercely loyal, uncompromising in her core beliefs, and a valued source of advice.
To Pearl, I can’t imagine the grief. Know that when Sue spoke of you, there was a light in her eyes. It was the light that feeds off of true and deep love. We a should all be so blessed to have that in our lives. My deepest sympathy and condolences.
We will remember Susan‘s warmth, love, and courage. We are so very sorry for your loss, Pearl.
Pearl, I’m sorry for your loss I can’t imagine. In our thoughts and prayers
Susan, or should I simply write Joy as I see your picture?
It is never good feeling bullets that close may I say with an humour I hope you will pardon.
Was I always good to you, may be not… Therefore this brief note for your life is rather a prier for your pardon.
Repose en Paix!
Pearl: I am so sorry to learn that Susan has died. I hope your happy memories help get you through the grief. But, know that whatever you feel at any given moment is OK. She loved you. You loved her. That’s what really matters.