Melanie Vollmerhausen McRoberts

Melanie Ann Vollmerhausen McRoberts died peacefully on February 18, 2023. She was born in Ecorse, MI, on December 1, 1936, to Mary Jane Hundley Vollmerhausen and John Maurice Vollmerhausen. She was the second of seven children – Mary Helen, Kathryn, Janet, Susan, Martha, and John – all of whom grew up contributing to the family business, Vollmerhausen Bakery, in their hometown, Allen Park, MI. Shortly after the family relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Melanie graduated high school and enrolled at Florida State University. Never one to pass up a new opportunity, she took up trapeze as part of the FSU Flying High Circus while earning a bachelor of science in education. She began her teaching career in Michigan and shortly thereafter signed on to teach in the U.S. Army Garrison Baumholder, a German military post. There, she met and married Lt. Col. William N. “Billy” McRoberts. Upon their return to the U.S., the newlyweds moved to Billy’s hometown of New Orleans, LA, ultimately settling in Baton Rouge. Together, they had four children. Melanie completed a master’s in counseling from LSU and taught homebound students for 43 years in East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools. An effusive educator, Melanie was armed with a lesson for anyone she encountered, from a stranger in the Calandro’s checkout line to the many LSU students from abroad that she welcomed into her home. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, Alpha Delta Kappa, and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. After retiring from teaching, Melanie – known by many as Mamoose – brought her family’s recipes to those she knew and loved and was almost never without a tray of sweet treats or cake ready to share. She loved traveling, especially to spend time with family and friends across the country and around the world. Melanie is predeceased by her parents, husband, oldest daughter Ann Verona McRoberts, and siblings Mary Helen Bowen, Janet Vollmerhausen, and John M. Vollmerhausen Jr. She is survived by her children William Norman McRoberts, III, M. Stanton “Tanie” Bush, Mary Lea McRoberts Manning (Will); grandchildren Victoria Anne “Tori” McRoberts Hoffpauir (David), Neal Lane McRoberts, Olivia Hundley Bush, Cecilia “Celie” Manning, William S. Manning; great grandchildren Joshua and Ana Lucia McRoberts Hoffpauir; siblings Kathryn Vollmerhausen Zimmerman, Susan Vollmerhausen, Martha Vollmerhausen; and many beloved nieces and nephews including Marta Colao-Pentland, Will Colao, Sherri Scott, Gabrielle Zimmerman, Philip Zimmerman, and John Plaisance. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 24, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Dunham Chapel at First Presbyterian Church with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Pallbearers are Michael Corry, William Manning, Michael Chol, Robins Constantine, Ashton Constantine, and Bryant Butler. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Melanie’s memory to the charity of your choice.