Sr. Mary Roberta Richmond, IHM, age 94, died Monday, May 11, surrounded by her IHM family in Monroe.
Dorothy Roberta Richmond was born Sept. 27, 1931, in the borough of Manhattan, New York. Her parents, George T. and Dorothy M. (Boyle) Richmond, raised her and brother George in the area surrounding Manhattan, in Manhasset, Oyster Bay and Long Island. She attended St. Mary, Manhasset and graduated from St. Dominic High School. She entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, and received the religious name, Sister Mary Roberta.
She was educated at Marygrove College, Detroit, where she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Her ministry of formal education began in Detroit at All Saints, St. Catherine, St. Mary of Redford, Mother of Our Savior, Our Lady of Good Counsel and St. Raymond. Religious education and coordination were her focus while at St. Ives, Southfield, and Gesu, Detroit.
In 1977, Sister Roberta entered the ministry of prayer, presence and service at Visitation – House of Prayer, Monroe. She moved to parish settings where she coordinated religious education programs at Sacred Heart, Humboldt, Tennessee, and St. John, Roswell, New Mexico. Returning to Michigan and through the Archdiocese of Detroit, she ministered in pastoral programs and Hispanic outreach at St. Charles, Newport, and St. Joseph, Monroe until 1995. Her last formal teaching positions included seven years at St. Raymond, in Rockaway, New York, and the Children’s Creativity Center, Monroe.
When she retired to the Motherhouse, Sister Roberta offered kindness and assistance throughout the local community, pastoral care, and was a supporter of Visitation House of Prayer and the St. Mary Organic Garden. She enjoyed writing personal histories of community members, often residents at IHM Senior Living Community, which were used at members’ funeral services.
Sister Roberta is survived by nephews and niece. She was preceded in death by her brother, George Thomas Richmond.
Green burial has taken place. A memorial mass will be held at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, Thursday, May 21, 2026, beginning with a Remembering at 10 a.m. Streaming begins at 10 a.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, MI 48162-7909.
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