Roberta “Bert” Mae Hanley

GARDINER – Roberta “Bert” Mae Hanley, 96, of Gardiner, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and LTC – Glenridge, following a year of declining health and, in her words “just all worn out.” Her entire family from Maine and New Hampshire visited and surrounded her with love in her final week.

Mom was born in Augusta on Sept. 16, 1927, the daughter of Lowell and Gladys (Slack) Parlin.

Roberta attended grammar school in a one-room schoolhouse in Chelsea during the Great Depression and graduated from Gardiner High School in 1945. Following graduation, she lived in Boston, Mass., and Washington, D.C., while working for the Veterans Administration.

Several years after returning to Maine, Roberta married John Hanley on July 25, 1953. They raised their six children on the VA reservation in Togus, where John worked.

Following John’s death on August 22, 1977, Roberta obtained her driver’s license and drove all around Kennebec County searching for bargains at every lawn and garage sale she could find. She also enjoyed traveling with family and friends to Ireland, England, and Hawaii along with cruises to Alaska, Mexico, Aruba, St. Thomas, etc. Mom loved family gatherings, shopping, playing cards, dancing, boat rides, going out to eat, trips to the casino, watching game shows and visiting with friends and family.

In 2016, Mom sold her home in Randolph and moved into one of Mattson’s senior apartments in Gardiner, where she made a lot of wonderful new friends and socialized while putting countless jigsaw puzzles together. Following Mom’s 96th birthday, she moved in with her daughter, Kathleen, and husband in Gardiner. Sadly, Mom outlived all of her siblings, her husband’s siblings, and many friends.

Roberta was predeceased by her parents; husband, John P. Hanley, Sr.; all of her siblings and their spouses, Grace Hayford (Donald), Dorothy Landry (Jack), Arlene Moody (Gerald), Edward Parlin (Merlene), and Dixie Landry (Joseph); son-in-law, Cal Ratcliff; dear friends, Cecilia Hutchins, Romayne Anderson, Barbara Spencer and Darla Janeway.

Roberta is survived by her six children, Judith Ratcliff, John P Hanley, Jr. (Carol), Kathleen Hall (Jay), Dennis Hanley (Deborah), David Hanley (Carolyn), and Doreen Plaisted (Marc); grandchildren, Larry Ratcliff (Amanda), Samantha Hager (Marie), Ian Hanley (Ali Gennaro), James Overlock, II (Kelly), Lindsey Twist (Joel), Eric Hanley (Kailey), Sarah Hanley (Kelley), Jennifer Lark (Adrian), Melissa Hanley and fiancé, Ash Perry, Daniel Hanley (Amber), Harris Plaisted and partner, Brooke Moloney, and Deanna Plaisted and partner, Barry Nitzel; step-grandchildren, Kendra Whitten, Melanie Bovero (Greg), Corey Emery (Shannon), Tyler Emery (fiancé Emily Flannagan) and Ashley Emery. Roberta also has many great-grandchildren; step-great-grandchildren; and step-great-great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Roberta was a communicant of St. Michael Parish at St. Joseph’s Church in Gardiner. At her request, no public visiting hours are being held.

A spring graveside service will be held on Friday, June 14 at 12 p.m., at the OLD Central Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 143 Blue Star Ave., Augusta.

Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to:

Kennebec Valley

Humane Shelter

168 Leighton Rd.

Augusta, ME 04330

Roberta “Bert” Mae Hanley