Pat K. Roberts

1928 – 2009

FARMINGTON – Pat Roberts, an early kidney transplant patient, died peacefully at home on Sept. 10, with her family by her side.

Born in Winthrop, on July 18, 1928, she was the daughter of Joseph and Cora (Lovejoy) Keith. She graduated from Winthrop High School in 1945, and in 1949, from Farmington State Teachers College.

Married in 1949, to professor Gwilym Roberts, she traveled in many parts of the world with her family and with the UMF alumni travel group. Janet, the second of her five daughters, was born during a year of residence in Wales.

Caring for her growing family and involvement in their activities was her greatest pleasure. While her children were young, she was active in the Old South Congregational Church of Farmington and in its Sunday School. A voracious reader throughout her life, she also greatly enjoyed traveling, playing bridge with friends, her book group, dancing, all kinds of music, theater, basketball and crossword puzzles.

Expected in 1965, to live a very short time due to kidney failure, she received a transplant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston in 1969. This kidney (from a deceased donor) had the remarkable longevity of 28 years. When the transplanted kidney began to fail in 1998, she returned to dialysis for two years before receiving a second transplant from her daughter, Sara. This resulted in greatly improved health, which allowed her to enjoy an active life until a recent period of declining strength.

She is survived by her five daughters and their families, Beth Roberts and her daughter, Rachelle Péan, of Albany, N.Y., Janet Roberts and her daughter, Seikah, of Brunswick, Megan Roberts and her husband, Peter Dumont, of Farmington, Sara Roberts of Waterville and Meredith Rehbach and her husband, Jeff, of Bristol, Vt.; and by her cousin, Ida Morrison of Limington.

She was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Gwilym Roberts; and her sister, Pauline Hebert.