Roberta Helen McHugo

Roberta Helen (Corey) McHugo, 83, of Ellington, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2022 after a lengthy battle with her health issues. Roberta was born on August 26, 1938 to Raymond and Mertie Corey in St. Johnsbury, VT. One of five children, her parents in 1948 uprooted the family with a move to 139 Forbes Street to start her East Hartford legacy. It was her attendance at East Hartford High school where she also began her longstanding lifetime association with her dear friends Joyce and Patty. A 1956 graduate and deemed in her yearbook as one who had 'the mildness of manners and gentleness' she moved on to pursue her studies in business.

A few years later on a blind date, she met William McHugo who she married in September 1960, and proceeded to have two children William Corey and Scott Andrew. She and her family resided in a small cape on Ridgewood Road in East Hartford until moving a few miles up the road to Skyline Drive in 1968. It was here at '96' that our house became the social neighborhood hotspot for the local kids and adults. Parent approved athletic backyard contests, fund raising carnivals, camp outs and excursions into our coveted woods that bordered our property were all standard fare. A priceless innocence and karma with the blessed touch of two special parents existed here that no outsider could ever quantify or explain.

Once her children became semi-independent, Roberta took various classes to acquire her Library Sciences degree, which led her to an affiliation with the East Hartford town library system. Various front desk positions at Penney High School, East Hartford High School, Raymond, and Wickham libraries allowed her to share knowledge and provide an opportunity to enhance many lives. "Knowledge is power” was one of her many mantras.

After this experience she moved onto the Aetna Self- paced education center in Hartford where she facilitated the coordination of administration programs for the betterment of the company's associates. She was also manager of the Aetna Outreach programs and spear headed an educational program entitled 'Saturday Academy' that gave local middle school students the opportunity to partake in educational workshops, group discussions, games and field trips.

After her retirement she turned attention to the beloved grandchildren (Sean, Emily, Elizabeth, Jocelyn, Bridget and Madeline) at her special warm and loving Ellington residency. Special 'grandma' sentiments touched all of their lives with story reading, special baking projects, holiday decoration events---all part of an effort to make important loving and special connections.

Roberta is predeceased by her parents Raymond and Mertie Corey, her husband William Joseph McHugo as well as her sister Marilyn Lanier and twin brother Robert Corey. She is survived by her two siblings, Ronald Corey in New Hampshire and Philip Corey of Bristol. Her immediate legacy will be carried on by her sons William Corey McHugo who is married to her special daughter-in law Joanne of Coventry, and Scott McHugo of Menlo Park, CA.

Funeral service celebrating Roberta’s life will be Saturday (March 12, 2022) at 10:30 am at the D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, (Section D), East Hartford. Roberta’s family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday morning from 9 am to 10:30 am at the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Roberta’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 200 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489 or to Protectors of Animals, 144 Main Street, Unit O, East Hartford, CT 06118. The McHugo family would like to express sincere thanks and appreciation to the Wethersfield ‘Right at Home’ agency, VITAS Healthcare and especially to Brookdale Buckingham in Glastonbury led by Jill, Doreen and their ever-caring staff who helped us through Roberta’s journey over the past few years. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.