Roberta Betourney, 77

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Roberta Yule (Hockridge) Betourney, 77, of North Adams, Mass., died on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at Williamstown Commons.

She was born in North Adams on June 2, 1942, a daughter of the late John and Margaret (Smith) Hockridge. She attended schools in North Adams and graduated Drury High School with the Class of 1960. She then attended the University of Massachusetts, graduating in 1963.

Roberta was Accounts Payable Manager at the former Roberts Company in North Adams for over 18 years. She was a former communicant of St. Francis Church in North Adams. She also enjoyed being a part of high school class reunion committees and working as a campaign volunteer for Mayor John Barrett of North Adams. While in school, she was active in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls from 1953-1960, attaining the various stations up to and including Worthy Advisor.

Roberta was passionate about family ancestry and took great pleasure in discovering and connecting with relatives in MA, CA, NJ, Canada, and England. She particularly loved Facebook, because it allowed her to stay in touch with family and friends and to share (and get) family photos, which she treasured so much.

One of Roberta’s greatest achievements was becoming a 14-year survivor of stage 3 ovarian cancer. Her family is so proud of the strength she showed in battling and beating this terrible disease and is blessed to have had her in their lives for an additional 14 years.

All who knew Roberta knew her to have a bright smile, a kind heart, a genuine love for her family and friends, and the ability to remain positive through life’s most difficult events.

Survivors include her husband, George Norman Betourney, whom she married on August 31, 1963; her daughter, Janine Carver, and husband, Michael, of New Hampshire; her brother, John Hockridge, and his wife, Andrea, of North Adams; two "sister" cousins, Marion (Sterni) Nelson of Florida and Margaret (Sterni) Parsons of Massachusetts; sister-in-law, Jeanne (Betourney) Lapine of North Adams; and nieces and nephews, Matthew Hockridge, Megan (Hockridge) Curry, Jeffrey Lapine, and Sarah Lapine.

Roberta’s family would like to express its sincere appreciation to the nurses, aides, and others at Williamstown Commons who cared for her during her stay and especially during her final days. We are so grateful for the love and respect you showed her every step of the way.

Funeral notice: A Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Roberta Betourney will be held Wednesday July 24, 2019, at 11 a.m. at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St. North Adams, Mass. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.

A calling hour will be held at the funeral home Wednesday morning from 10-11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.