Macdonald, Roberta C. of Arlington on Feb. 3, 2017 at age 102. Dear daughter of the late Leo and Regina (Gage) Macdonald. Loving sister of the late Leo, M. Constance Butler, Marguerite Sutherland, Katherine, Grace, James and Sister Carolyn Macdonald M. M. Roberta is survived by her beloved 26 nieces and nephews and numerous grand nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends will gather on Tuesday in the DeVito Funeral Home 1145 Mass. Ave., ARLINGTON from 4-8 pm and on Wednesday commencing at 9 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Barbara's Church, Woburn. Interment will be in the family plot at Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline. In lieu of flowers memorial donations would be appreciated to: Maryknoll Sisters PO Box 317, Maryknoll, NY 10545

Roberta graduated from Saint Clement Grammar School in Medford (1927), Mount Saint Joseph High School in Brighton (1931), and Regis College in Weston (1935: BA in Latin and minor in Greek, magna cum laude). She then earned a master’s in business from Boston University and a doctorate in education law from the University of Florida. Roberta’s career as a professor and dean spanned five decades, primarily at her beloved Fisher College in Boston and Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, VA, where she loved her back patio view of the mountains and then her little red house on Oaklawn Avenue.
Upon her retirement, Roberta moved back to Massachusetts, spending vibrant years avidly reading, enjoying the arts, shopping – although not always buying – with her sisters, engaging in Bible studies, CCD and the Rosary, and traveling, especially on the train and T. In later years, the train and T transported her to her younger siblings, for whom she was a constant and thoughtful caretaker.
Throughout her life, Roberta’s greatest joy was spending time with her cherished family and legion of friends, laughing and – most importantly – eating maple walnut ice cream.

The essence of Roberta is aptly described in these words from her “grand”niece:
Aunt Roberta, better known as Auntie to all who loved her, graced this world for 102 years. We hope God greeted you in Heaven with as strong a hug as you gave us so many times. You touched the lives of countless nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, as well as all of their spouses and significant others. You had the gift of making each one of us know we were special when you were with us. Never a mother, yet somehow we were all your kids. You celebrated many occasions in our lives and took pride in us. And you were a woman ahead of your time, modeling for us how a woman, educated and fiercely independent, could live such a good and full life. May we all carry on your legacy while you enjoy ice cream with your siblings and dance with the men in Heaven.