Roberta was born Feb. 25, 1925 in Manhattan, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (McCaffery) Simms of Bayside. She married Army veteran Hugh E. Lacey on May 18, 1946 at Bayside and they settled in Westbury, Long Island, moving to Walton in 1967.
Roberta was preceded in death by her husband Hugh in 1973 and by son Brian H. Lacey in 2022.
She is survived by her sons John E. Lacey and wife Diane of Barton, David J. Lacey of Oneonta, and Kevin G. Lacey of Walton; by her daughter-in-law Tami (Gribble) Lacey of Walton, and by her granddaughter Denise Lacey and great-granddaughter Lydia Corcoran of Apalachin.
Before marriage Roberta was employed as a civilian of the Army Air Force at Sperry Gyroscope Co. in Great Neck, until the end of World War II, and later as a secretary at American Airlines, La Guardia Airport. After she married, she was primarily a housewife and mother. After leaving Westbury and moving to Walton, Roberta graduated from SUNY Delhi as an LPN and worked at Delaware Valley Hospital and other medical and nursing home facilities for over two decades.
Mrs. Lacey had a fondness for travel and has many albums with reminders of trips in the USA and abroad. She loved writing her memoirs and was a member of the Ogden Library’s writers’ group. She was an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and served as a sacristan and as a lay minister of the Eucharist. Roberta also served as secretary of the Walton Senior Citizens Club for several years.
Those wishing to do so may contribute to Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa), 335 E. 145th St., Bronx, NY 10451; or to a charity of your choice.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Walton, Friday, Feb. 6, at 11 a.m. with Father Golding presiding. Burial will be on a future date in the spring at Paige Cemetery, Downsville.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Courtney Funeral Home, Walton. To leave a message of peace and comfort for Roberta’s family visit her online tribute at www.courtneyfh.com
