Roberta W. Chesebrough

Roberta "Bertie" Ruth (Ward) Chesebrough, 88 years old, passed away Nov 1st at Our Lady of Mercy in Guilderland. Bertie was born in Stony Creek, NY and since one year old has resided in Guilderland. For 61 years was the beloved wife of the late Frank E. Chesebrough, Jr. She was a life time member of the Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church. Bertie loved family, gardening, traveling, bowling, and square dancing, but much of her life was dedicated to helping others. Early on Bertie worked at Babbitt's as a comptometer operator doing payroll in Albany. She was a fixture of the Guilderland post office, including when it was in Ward's Market, retiring after 28 years. She was a Boy Scout den leader and Charter Member of the Guilderland Fire Dept. Ladies Auxiliary. For Guilderland, she was cofounder of the Food Pantry, founder of the Meals on Wheels program, and Coordinator of the US government surplus food program. She was a Sunday school teacher for 22 years, Superintendent of Sunday School for 5 years, ruling elder for 5 years, on many church committees, and a member of the Interfaith Council. She received the Guilderland's Citizen of the Year Award in 1987. Bertie is survived by her children, Ed Chesebrough and his wife Peggy of Delanson, and her daughter Linda Modica and her husband Harold of Townsend, MA and her 4 grandchildren, Kristie and Tracy Chesebrough and Eric and Steve Modica. She also is survived by her brothers, Lewis, Jack, and David Ward, and sisters, Kay Matson, Ella Armstrong, and Vera Ward. A memorial service will be held Friday, November 7, at 11AM at the Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church in Guilderland, with burial following at Prospect Hill Cemetery. A reception will follow at Hamilton Union's Doug and Pattie Gray Educational Bldg. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to be sent to Meals on Wheels of Albany, Senior Service of Albany Foundation 25 Delaware Ave. Albany, NY 12210 or The Guilderland Food Pantry, PO Box 7, Guilderland NY 12084.