Gloria L. (Cote) Roberge 85, of Pond St. died February 20, 2016 at Woonsocket Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was the wife of the late Maurice Roberge. Born in Woonsocket, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Elphonsine (Boudreau) Cote. Gloria worked at many places, her first job was making bows at Woolworths, then US Rubber Shop for twenty eight years and for AT Cross for five years. She also enjoyed waitressing at several local restaurants including, The Eldorado, Delasta’s, Lil and Gene’s, The Coachmen’s Lodge, Nancy’s and her favorite The Chowder Bowl. Gloria was a member of St. Louis Choir, St. Anthony’s Choir, and a greeter at All Saints Church. She volunteered to help many charitable causes throughout the community and was deeply devoted most of all to St. Jude, putting her heart and soul into preparing for the St. Jude Breakfast every September. She was known as the “Memere of the Jaycees” and raised thousands of dollars for the Milk Fund. Gloria greatly enjoyed politics and always enthusiastically supported her favorite candidates and looked forward to working the polls. Gloria will be remembered throughout the city she loved, for offering a helping hand to anyone and everyone who needed it. Her smiles, her bows, and her level of energy and generosity, will be missed by all.
She is survived by three sons Leo Desrosiers of Leighton, PA, Maurice Roberge Jr of Glendale, and Robert Roberge of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, a daughter Christine Driscoll of Glendale, three sisters Marie Jeanne Gagnon and Leonie Lacroix both of Woonsocket, and Suzanne Houle of Hayward, CA, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and her much loved Noel Pincince whom she called her adopted son and considered a part of her family. She was predeceased by a son Marc Desrosiers, a grandson Nathan Roberge, and siblings Andre, Martial, Noel, Dolarde, Montcalm, Laval, Gerard, Prosper, and Lucien Cote, and Anita Lafontaine.
According to Gloria’s wishes, her funeral arrangements under the direction of the Fournier & Fournier Funeral Home were private. Contributions to St. Jude’s -Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142 Memphis TN 38101-9908 in Gloria’s memory would be appreciated.