Rita May Roberts

Rita May Szanik Roberts, 94, passed away on June 20, 2017. Beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she will be deeply missed by both family and friends. Rita was born in Newark, NJ to Albert Szanik and Emily Craven. She moved to Jacksonville over 50 years ago and was a fixture in the Ortega neighborhood. She was a long time parishioner at St. Paul’s Catholic Church Riverside and was active in many parish activities, school organizations and clubs. She also worked at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Carter’s Ortega Pharmacy and is well known for her days spent safely crossing children across the streets as the Ortega Elementary School Crossing Guard. Her willingness to help anyone in need was her legacy, and she touched the lives of many and will always be in our thoughts and prayers. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William Leonard Roberts, her son, Raymond William Roberts, and her brother, Al Szanik. She is survived by her son, Richard Jay Roberts (Gara), and daughter Susan Helen DuChanois (James), her grandchildren, Daniel Roberts, John Roberts (Nikki), Emily Opdycke (Dave), Bill Roberts (Jessica), Gara Leen (Kevin), Brandon DuChanois, Ryan DuChanois, and eight great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 23rd at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Church Riverside, 2609 Park Street followed by a funeral Mass at 2 p.m. Burial will immediately follow at Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Orange Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Riverside.