Roberta Marie McElroy

McElroy, Roberta Marie, (Shepherd) beloved wife of the late Walter J. McElroy, loving mother of Cardinal Robert McElroy, Kathleen Schreiner, Walter J. McElroy III and the late Mary McElroy and Patricia Merriman, dear mother-in-law to John Schreiner and Theresa McElroy, proud grandmother of Eric and Courtney Schreiner; Meredith, Walter IV, and Erin McElroy; and Ryan and Christopher Merriman; caring great grandmother to Aiden and Cody Merriman; dear sister of the late June Hesketh and sister-in-law to the late Jean Ward, and dear aunt to many nephews and nieces.

Roberta was born a fourth generation native San Franciscan in 1925 to James and Irene Shepherd, who were a wonderful grace to her throughout their lives.  She was a graduate of Saint Cecilia Elementary School (class of 1939), Saint Rose Academy, and the University of California, Berkeley, where she majored in history and graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Roberta taught for three years at Paul Revere Elementary School in San Francisco. Throughout her life she was devoted to leadership and service in the Church.  Roberta was Past President of Westlake Catholic Women, Our Lady of Angels Mothers’ Club, Notre Dame High School Mothers’ Club and Star of the Valley Women’s Club.  She was also Vice President of Little Children’s Aid for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.  In addition, she taught catechism for twelve years and was a parish council member, head lector and liturgy committee member in the parishes to which she belonged.

Roberta loved tennis and was an avid player into her eighties.  She belonged to the Peninsula Tennis Club and the Oakmont Tennis Club. Roberta also loved taking cruises, enjoying more than fifty cruises in her lifetime, always returning with stories of adventures and new friends.  The first cruise that Roberta and Walter took was to Hawaii, beginning a great love affair for both of them with Maui, where they spent the majority of their winters for more than thirty years.

Roberta cherished her faith profoundly, and daily thanked God for all of the blessings in her life: a wonderful, supportive husband for more than 67 years, children who felt profoundly graced to have her as a mother, and a series of beautiful friendships in every decade which reflected her joyful, warm and compassionate nature.  As we, her children, entrust her to God, we know our mother will be reunited with those who accompanied her on her earthly pilgrimage, and that we will see her once again.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday, June 26^th at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church, 1721 Hillside Drive, Burlingame, California.

Interment will be private and will be held at a later date.