Roberta Jean (Greene) LaPan

Roberta Jean (Greene) LaPan, "Bert", 80, died Friday January 8, 2016 at the Buckley Health Care Center in Greenfield.

Roberta was born in Gill, MA on September 5, 1935, the daughter of Kenneth W. and Mary M. (Hodgman) Greene. She married Kenneth R. LaPan on November 17, 1956.

Roberta was predeceased by her husband of nearly forty years, Kenneth (6-21-96), her parents, her brother Kenneth and a sister Ellen Mae at birth. She is survived by her three sons, Kevin R. LaPan of Turners Falls, Keith R. LaPan of Orange and Karl R. LaPan and his wife Kelly of Fort Wayne, IN. She had eight grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. She is also survived by a brother John and his wife Karen.

She was a lifetime member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. She graduated high school in 1954. Following high school she completed her LPN licensing training at Pondville Hospital.

Throughout her life, she excelled as a homemaker and mother, volunteered at the Church and for the American Cancer Society and worked part-time as a nurse. She had a passion for education, lifelong learning and loved sports (especially baseball). She was a disciple of Jesus Christ and loved her family more than anything. For nearly 25 years, she suffered from Parkinson's Disease but the disease never held her back from caring about people and making a difference in people's lives. She worked diligently to educate others about this insidious disease and the need for accelerated funding for Parkinson's research. Despite her limitations of living with Parkinson's Disease, she never lost her sense of humor and dignity. "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23)

Services and interment will be private. There are no calling hours. Burial will be in High Street Cemetery.

The family wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation to the staff of Buckley Health Care Center in Greenfield, who provided excellent care to her over the last five years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2 Prospect St., Turners Falls, MA 01376 

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