It is fitting that Sister Roberta Desjardins went home to her loving God during the Congregation Pilgrimage. Born in Lawrence MA, she met Holy Union Sisters in the elementary and secondary schools of Sacred Heart Parish in Lawrence. When she was twenty-one Sr. Roberta entered the Holy Union Sisters and taught briefly before going to the Holy Union Missions in Cameroon.
It was there that she pronounced her perpetual vows and served for over forty years. Sr. Roberta was chosen twice to lead the Cameroon Region. She was elected to the Congregation's General Council and over six years visited sisters in all the geographic areas. At the end of her term, she and Sister Anne Lucie established a mission among the Baka people in Moloundou, a remote area of southeastern Cameroon. Sr. Roberta learned the Baka language and was able to relate to the people. She was often called upon to act as a translator at international Holy Union meetings.
She returned to Rome in 1984 and for a year worked with the Jesuit Refugee Services to minister to the large number of Ethiopian refugees fleeing their repressive government. She then returned to Cameroon and continued her dedicated service to the sisters.
In 2000, she was asked to serve as administrator of the Holy Union Sisters Generalate in Rome, which again she did most capably. In 2010 her international experience came to an end when she returned to Lawrence and joined the retired Holy Union Sisters at Mary Immaculate Residence. Retirement enabled Sr. Roberta to pursue her many interests including developing her artistic gifts. She took classes in pottery and painting at the local senior center and her paintings and sculptures often were gifts to sisters and friends. Because of her ease with technology, even in retirement, she continued to translate documents for the Congregation. It was only when her eyesight failed that she could no longer continue.
In their message of condolence, the General Council captured the life of Sister Roberta:
Her life took her to places " ... where others have not yet gone,
doing what others have not yet done,
for the sake of God’s people. " Art 61
Wherever she went, she showed enormous respect for the heritage and customs of those with whom and among whom she worked... and will always be remembered as a loving, caring, gifted and welcoming Holy Union Sister.
Sisters Caroline Njah Annemarie Egan Yvette Sam Michele Totman
Holy Union Sisters General Council
Here are some photos from Sister Roberta's long and varied life.
