Obituary of Roberta Kent Merrick
Roberta Jeanne Kent Merrick passed away peacefully on July 5th, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Utica, after a brief illness.
Roberta was born on November 27, 1936 in Elgin, Illinois. Married to Walter Merrick for 60 years, she spent most of her married life in Rome, where they raised four children.
Roberta was generous, kind, and shared her musical, artistic, and culinary talents with all those around her. She had a quick wit and keen mind. She served her family, church and community with love. She served on the Board of Education in Rome for six years, had a thriving gingerbread and gift business, Cottage Gate, with her friend, Cindy Majka of Whitesboro, and held a variety of church responsibilities that blessed many lives.
Roberta is survived by her husband, Walter of Rome; her three daughters, Rebekah (Gary) Wolf of Salt Lake City, Utah, Leah (Mark) McBride of Chatham, NJ, and Nancy (Brent) Phillippi of Madison, NJ; her son, Brendan Merrick of Ashland, MA; seven grandchildren, Jonathan Wolf, Nicholas Wolf, Kristoffer Wolf, Jameson McBride, Alexandra McBride Cousineau, Achsa Phillippi, and David Phillippi; and six great-grandchildren Emily, James, Micah, Minnie, Conner and Oliver.
A viewing will be held at Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street, in Rome, on Thursday, July 8th, from 6-8 PM. A second viewing will be held on Friday, July 9th from 12-1 PM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 8650 Turin Road in Rome. Directly following the viewing will be a service honoring Roberta. She will then be interned at Rome Cemetery on Jervis Ave. in Rome.