Sr. Roberta Marie Southwick, SA

April 18, 1940 - May 13, 2020

Sister Roberta Maria Southwick, age 80, a Franciscan Sister of the Atonement from Graymoor, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at St. Francis Convent, Garrison, New York. The second of nine children, Sister Roberta, known as “Bobby” to her family, was born in Ogdensburg, NY on April 18, 1940 to Josephine (O’Brien) and Charles H. Southwick, Sr. Predeceased by her parents and brother, Kevin, Sister is survived by seven siblings: Sara Martineau, Veronica Cusson, Monica Lauzon, Martha Charpentier, Charles, Bill and Bryan Southwick and numerous nieces & nephews. Sister Roberta entered the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement on September 8, 1957. She professed her First Vows on April 16, 1959 and her Final Vows on August 29, 1964. As an Atonement missionary for 62 years, Sister Roberta served in various ministries. She was a well-versed individual who was very inquisitive, creative and who developed many talents. Her earlier mission assignments included a variety of parish, catechetical, and teaching ministries in: Burlington, VT (1960-1963); Placerville, CA (1963), Schenectady & Canajoharie, NY (1963-1966); Boston, MA (1966-1969), and Kamiyama, Japan (1969-1974) where she skillfully learned Japanese. In fact, for a Papal Visit for the Archdiocese of New York, Sister Roberta served as a Japanese Translator. For several years, Sister worked in Tokyo at the Japan Bishops’ Conference Secretariat and at the Tosei News, a bi-weekly compilation of religious news for the foreign missionaries in Japan and the only Catholic news service from the church in Japan. Creative in diverse areas, Sister Roberta was later missioned to the Motherhouse at Graymoor (1974-1983) to work in our Communications Department. There, she learned all aspects of offset lithographic printing and typesetting and printed the brochures, booklets and newsletters that were sent out from the congregation. After nine years, Sister Roberta went to our guest house in Assisi, Italy (1983-1986) to be involved in our ministry of hospitality welcoming tourists and pilgrims from around the world. After spending three years in Assisi, Sister returned to New York for a short time to care for her mother who died in 1986. In 1994, Sister Roberta went to Utica, NY and in 1995 became the administrative secretary of the Syracuse Diocese’s Office of Vocation Promotion with Fr. James Quinn as Director. The two worked together as a team for six years, promoting vocations to the Diocesan priesthood and to religious life. Leaving the Syracuse Diocese in 2001 for her appointment as the Treasurer General in the congregation, Sister returned to Utica, NY in 2003 and became Director of the Proctor House Faith Center and in 2010, ministered at St. Joseph/St. Patrick’s in Utica, NY. Returning to Graymoor in September 2013, Sister Roberta coordinated activities for one-year for seniors at the Mother Lurana House Adult Social Day Center. At the time of her death, Sister Roberta was the Coordinator of Mission Appeals. She was an enthusiastic promoter of our mission in the Philippines (founded in 2010) and she spoke tirelessly about promoting funds for its’ operation and encouraged others to do so. In addition to this, she was also a co-editor of our Development Department’s newsletter, Graymoor’s Well. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, funeral services are postponed until a later date and will be announced via emails and through our Facebook page at: facebook.com/Graymoor.Sisters. If interested in receiving email notification, send your name and email address to: [email protected] In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement and mailed to Development Office, 41 Old Highland Turnpike, Garrison, NY 10524. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. Arrangements by Dorsey-Carlone Funeral Home, Peekskill, NY.