Roberta “Bobbi” Bray 1943-2018
Sauquoit
Roberta “Bobbi” Bray, 74, passed away on January 26, 2018 at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare with her loving family at her side.
Bobbi was born in Utica on July 5, 1943, the second daughter of Casper and Jane Hyde Sents. She was a graduate of New Hartford High School.
On July 15, 1961 Bobbi wed Ronald Bray in St. Anthony of Padua Church in Chadwicks. Ron was Bobbi's devoted husband for 56 years. They had six children, 13 grandchildren, and 7 great gand children. Bobbi and Ron worked tirelessly to raise their family and build their business.
Bobbi and Ron were lifelong partners. Bobbi always looked forward to Sunday drives with Ron, and catching up with friends and family as they enjoyed the breeze on the front porch. So welcoming was she that their home was often referred to as the Bray Luncheonette.
Bobbi and Ron operated Bray's Trucking and Paving, as well as the Bray Homestead Farm. She was also fabulous cook whose door was always open and she was always available to lend a sympathetic ear. Bobbi loved shopping for gifts for her large family, and had developed a new found interest in Facebook.
Bobbi is survived by her beloved husband, Ron, and her children; Laurie Bray, Donna Hoke, Cynthia and Jeffery Goldstein, Barbara and Patrick Sheppard, and James A. Bray Sr. and Michelle Thurston. She had 13 adored grandchildren; Amanda, John, Steven, Brittney, Lyndsay, Jessica, Emily, Megan, Braylin, Gillian, Ashley, Mackenzie and Madison, and 7 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Karen Jweid; her brothers Michael and Sandra Sents, and Richard and Brenda Sents; her brother and sister in law Donald and Deborah Bray and Marilyn and George Richter, and several neices and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, Ronald Bray in 1995, her grandson, James A. Bray Jr. in 2000 and her sister Jacqueline Forbes in 2015.
We would like to acknowledge the kindness and compassion shown to Bobbi and her family by the ICU Nurses at St. Luke's Hospital. A special thank you to; Ferid RT, Jodi RN Carol RN, Deanna RN, Melissa RN, Sedina RN, Brittany RN, Alex RN, Janice RN, Dr. Booth and Natalya NP, Dr. Malempati, Dr. E. Wassel. Dr. A. Wassel, Dr. Mirza and Sr. Maureen Denn. Lastly to our many friends for their visits, kind words, thoughts and prayers through this difficult time.
Bobbi’s Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 31, at 10:00 at St. Patrick’s-St. Anthony’s Church in Chadwicks. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Clayville. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 5-8 at the Smith Funeral Home, 3022 Oneida St. Sauquoit.
To view Bobbi’s online memorial, please go to:
www.smith-funeralhome.com.
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