Roberta Irene Irving

Roberta I. Irving, 80, passed away, peacefully early Friday morning on July 25, 2008 at home with her family present. A Celebration of Life Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 30 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St; St. Joseph, MI. Father Dan Doctor and Deacon Mike Gallagher will officiate. There will be a gathering at Roberta’s Condominium on Wayne St. afterwards. She will be interred in Battle Creek next to her husband at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may sign the guestbook online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Roberta was born on April 13, 1928 to John and Clara (Kelly) Kuhnlein in Detroit, MI. She was born and raised in Detroit, graduating from Holy Redeemer High School. She married the former Evans J. Irving in Detroit on April 15, 1950. Together, they raised four children, Gary, Heidi, Pamela and Robert. In her younger years, she took great pride in driving for the Blind in Grand Rapids. Roberta moved to St. Joseph, Michigan where she was a devout Catholic and an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church for many years. Roberta’s greatest joy was her children and her grandchildren. Roberta is survived by her children; Gary (Carol) Irving of St. Joseph, MI, Heidi (Mark) Lacey of Traverse City, MI and Robert (Melissa) Irving of Albequerque, NM; three grandchildren, Devan and Corrie Irving and Marek Lacey; a sister, Theresa Duffy of Westland, MI and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Evans in September of 2007; daughter, Pamela Mary Irving on April 22, 1994; and siblings, John Kuhnlein, Peggy McCarthy, and Betty Nagle.