Roberta May Kern's Obituary
Kern, Roberta May 84, of Dunedin, died peacefully at the home of her son and daughter-in-law on March 3, 2017. She faced her illness with grace, dignity, and sense of humor. The daughter of Ammon R. and Clara G. (Kisner) Hoff, Roberta was born September 25, 1932, at home in Montgomery, Pennsylvania.
In 8th grade Roberta moved with her family to the home her grandfather Kisner built in Goosetown (Watsontown). Pennsylvania. After graduating from Watsontown High School, she worked at the Watsontown Silk Mill. On Valentine's Day, 1953, she met John (Jack) B. Kern, who had just returned from serving in the Korean War. They married July 29th at Roberta's home and spent the next few years in Watsontown and Sunbury, Pennsylvania.
In 1959 Roberta and Jack moved to Marathon, New York with their two small children. Jack built a successful Charles Chip franchise while Roberta cared for her family and home. She ran a storefront for the chip business in Cortland and later worked for twenty years as a clerk for Kinney Drugs in Marathon and Cortland.
Roberta and Jack moved to Cortland in 1976, where she became an active member of the Homer United Methodist Church. She had a lovely voice and sang in the church choir and was a member of the United Methodist Women. In retirement, she and Jack traveled across the country and to Europe, enjoyed their grandchildren, and were devoted Syracuse football fans.
Several years after Jack's death in 2001 Roberta relocated to Dunedin, Florida. She enjoyed living near her son's family and making new friends at the Hale Center and United Methodist Church. Her sweet, helpful nature endeared her to many who loved her and will miss her dearly.
She was also predeceased by her brother, Fred Hoff.
Roberta is survived by her sister Shirley Hartranft; her son and daughter-in-law Jay Michael and Cathy Christian Kern; daughter and son-in-law Janette and Vern Barnes; grandsons Louis and Vincent Kern, Mike Christian, and Sean (Julia), Kevin (Sasha), and Patrick Barnes; great-grandsons Jackson and Connor Barnes; and her many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Roberta will be held at the United Methodist Church in Dunedin on Thursday, March 9th at 1:30 pm. Burial will take place in Dryden, New York.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Suncoast Hospice at https://www.thehospice.org/Home
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