Donalda Allison Roberts

1919 ~ 2009

Donalda Roberts a resident of Calgary, Alberta; formerly of Dawson Creek, B.C. passed away on December 29, 2009 in Calgary, Alberta at the age of 90 years.

Donalda, was born on September 29, 1919 in Congress Saskatchewan, and was the oldest of 6 children born to Frank & Isabelle Fordyce. 

Donalda also known as Donnie met her husband Syd Roberts, after his family emigrated from Liverpool England to Beaverlodge and Syd began work on Donalda’s father’s farm.  Years later, on April 19, 1942 they were married and lived in a small house near the family farm.

The newly weds then moved to Prince Rupert, B.C. where Donnie worked at the Rupert People’s Store while Syd was acquiring his Steam Engineering Degree. They later moved to Dawson Creek where Syd began work and later their 2 children Robbie & Joye were born.

Syd passed away on January 7th, 1980.  Donnie remained in their home until 1989 when she sold her house and moved to Leduc, Alberta.  She felt the need to be closer to her family in Calgary & Edmonton.

While living in Leduc, she met Irvine Charest and they were married on December 5th, 1992.  She loved to take Irvine out for drives in her car.

Sadly, Donnie & Irvine had to separate as disabilities for both were setting in.  Irvine went to live with his family in Beaumont, AB. And Donnie moved to a senior’s apartment in Calgary, near Peter & Joye.

Donnie had many good friends in Dawson Creek and area.  She was cheerful and giving.  She worked in retail and also at the local drive-in theatre, helping the Kreuzinger family out in the evenings.  Donalda loved to sew on her Singer (treadle) Sewing Machine and would cut hair for anyone that asked.  When her parents needed help in their elder years, Donalda could be counted on to care for them. 

Donalda was predeceased by both Syd Roberts and Irvine Charest, as well as her parents Frank & Isabelle Fordyce, Nephews  - Blaine Plasnik, Derek Fordyce & Randy Lindsey, Nieces – Phyllis Connor, Joan Kerr and Darcy Gardiner and aunts, uncles and in laws, too numerous to mention.

Donalda leaves behind her beloved children, Robbie & Marie Roberts, Joye & Peter Dillimore, her grandchildren Yvonne & Serge Trinca, Trisha & Jeff Lammle, and Farrah & Cody McArthur and her only Great Grandchild, Robert Waylon McArthur.  She is also survived by her sister Eunice Lindsey in Arizona, Veryle Plasnik of Edmonton, Ione & Keith of Edmonton, Francis & Velda of Dawson Creek, and Kenneth & Gwen Fordyce of Dawson Creek, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A funeral service was held on Friday, January 8, 2010 at 11:00 am at Reynars Funeral Chapel, Pastor Rainer Salomaa of Calgary, Alberta and Pastor Dave Brisbin of Fairview, Alberta officiated. Interment followed in the Beaverlodge Cemetery, Beaverlodge Alberta.