Roberta Ann Hayes, of Hopewell Junction, died at the Kaplan Family Hospice Residence in Newburgh on Monday, September 22, 2014 following a courageous two-year battle with endometrial cancer. She was 60 years old.
She was born in Yonkers on April 8, 1954. At the age of 10, her family relocated to Hopewell Junction, where she attended local schools and graduated from John Jay High School. She then enrolled in secretarial college in New York City.
For 30 years, Roberta worked for I.B.M. at their campuses in both East Fishkill and Poughkeepsie. She retired this year as a Project Manager.
She attended St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill and actively volunteered for many charitable organizations. Last year, she was the second highest donor for Yale School of Medicine's "Discovery to Cure", a program dedicated to raising awareness and research for treating women's reproductive cancer.
She is survived by two children along with their companions, David Hayes & Jennifer Komondorea of Hopewell Junction and Amber Hayes & Matthew Cuchelo of Poughkeepsie; her mother, Mary Jane Bowden of Hopewell Junction; her partner, Paul Kuschnar of Ossining; her sisters, Mary Lou Smith & her husband Douglas of North Carolina and Diana Swierczek & her husband Thomas of Wappingers Falls; her nieces and nephews, Tammy Donaldson, Tracy Lennox, Shannon Swierczek, Robert Smith, and Douglas Smith; also many cousins and other loving relatives & friends. Her first grandchild is due to be born December 31.
She was predeceased by her father, Robert Bowden.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 25 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, September 26 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill.
Roberta's services will represent a true celebration of her life and welcoming to Heaven. The family encourages all relatives & friends to attend the services wearing bright & colorful attire.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice Residence, c/o Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Ct., Newburgh, NY 12550, www.hospiceoforange.com OR Discovery to Cure, c/o Yale School of Medicine, Department of OB/GYN, P.O. Box 208063, LSOG 305, New Haven, CT 06520-8063.
For directions, online condolences, and memorial donations, visit Roberta's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.