Irene Frances (Gilligan) Roberts, 92 of Riverside, passed away peacefully in the company of family at the Newport Hospital, Tuesday, January 28, 2014, following a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of Kenneth E. Roberts.
Irene was born in Pawtucket, a daughter of the late Martin and Gertrude (Horbert) Gilligan. After graduating with honors from Pawtucket High School, Class of 1939, Irene worked at the Cumberland Engineering and W.H. Haskell Mfg. Companies before marrying Ken in 1950. She devoted the rest of her life to nurturing her four daughters and maintaining a loving and creative home life, where friends and strangers were welcomed. Her words of wisdom were always a comforting influence. She will be missed a great deal.
Mrs. Roberts was predeceased by her beloved daughter Christine, sisters Gertrude and Madelyn and brother Martin Jr. Irene is survived by her husband, Kenneth; her children Karen Santolupo of Bristol, Lisa Roberts of Seekonk, Louise Richter of Wickford, R.I.; 10 grandchildren; two sisters, Carol Broll of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Mary Parseghian of Shrewsbury, Mass.