Mary Louise Roberts

Obituary Mary was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on October 5th, 1934 to Sicilian immigrants Antonio and Theresa Cash. She went to Our Heavenly Father on December 30th, 2011 due to complications from a stroke. She was raised in a Sicilian enclave in Council Bluffs along with her brother Leo (Lloydine) Cash, her sisters Josephine Garafalo, Angela Cash, Theresa Hecht, and Antoinette (Tom) Allmon. She was predeceased by her sister Catherine Stewart. Mary leaves behind her husband Kenneth (MSgt USAF-Ret), sons Stephen, Michael (Daphné), Patrick, and Timothy Roberts. Mary was blessed with nine grandchildren: Jimmy, Danny, Heather, Sally, Neil, Andrew, Phelicity, and grandsons Trevor and Taylor who were adopted as sons and raised by Mary and Ken, and an extended tight-knit family of loving relations and friends in Washington, Iowa, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Mary got to know Ken by mail via a mutual friend while he was stationed with the US Air Force in England in 1953. After two years of correspondence they finally met in a traditional Italian family setting and were engaged within a week. Mary and Ken were wed in June 1956 and began their life as an Air Force family. Mary was known for her fervent dedication to her family, assuring they were always at ease and well-fed. Her warmth and love shone through in her cooking, especially so in her lasagna, spaghetti, and "dirty rice". Mary was also a member of Sons of Italy and a regular parishioner of Visitation Catholic Church in Tacoma. Her family will miss her hugs, kisses and unwavering support. Most of all we will miss her spirit-full of love and light-guiding us through life. The family also wishes to extend our thanks to the MultiCare Hospice staff at Tacoma General Hospital. A very special thank you is reserved for Michael and Kerri Williams (and family) of Beckonridge Adult Family Home. We appreciate your professional and loving care of Mary through her last trying days, and we are honored to count you now as part of our extended family. The Rosary will be recited on her behalf on Friday, January 6th, 2012 at 7:00 PM at Gaffney Funeral Home, 1102 South Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, WA. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 7th, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Visitation Catholic Church, 3314 South 58th Street, Tacoma, WA. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 5212 70th Street West, University Place, WA. A gathering to honor Mary's life will then be held at Lakewood Elks, 6313 75TH ST W, Lakewood, WA.