Roberta Messina

Roberta Messina of East Brunswick, NJ, formerly of St. Cloud, Florida passed away peacefully at the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, with her loving family at her side. She was 79. Roberta was born in Union City, NJ in 1940 to William Blank and Cecelia Griffin. She, her siblings and her parents lived most of their lives in Weehawken, NJ before she moved to St. Cloud, Florida in early 2005. Roberta loved to cook and grow lovely flowers in her garden as well as spending time with her dog Suzy and grandchildren’s dogs. She was an avid bingo player who also enjoyed taking trips down to Atlantic City. She was a funny, loving and gentle person who will be missed dearly by all who were graced by her presence.

Roberta is predeceased by her parents William Blank and Cecelia Griffin; and her children, William Bodtmann, Linda Carter, and Michael Bodtmann; siblings, Lillian Mets, Mary Fisher, Dorothy Bond, Charles Kinsley, Dudley Kinsley and William Blank. She is survived by her sister, Anna Quilla of Fords, NJ; daughters, Jacqueline Leahy of East Brunswick, NJ, Ann Reilly and her husband John of Weehawken, NJ, Roberta Kelly and her husband Anthony of Scranton, PA; son, Philip Bodtmann and his wife Sandy of Scranton, PA, daughter in law, Stacy Bodtmann, 20 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and many dear friends.

Relatives and friends are invited, Friday, February 28 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Raritan Bay Funeral Service, 241 Bordentown Avenue, South Amboy, NJ 08879 for a celebration of Roberta’s life. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic Church, 42 Main Street, Sayreville, NJ, on February 29, 2020, at 9:45 AM. Burial will follow at the Chestnut Hill Cemetery, East Brunswick, NJ.