Obituary of Roberta Hallam

Roberta (Bobbi) Jean Hallam (nee Campbell) passed away surrounded by family on April 8, 2012. She was born in Montreal to Robert and Rita Campbell (nee Durick) of Purcell’s Cove, NS and one of eight siblings. Following a traumatic spinal cord injury in 1957 and extensive physical rehabilitation, she resumed her education and began employment at Saint Mary’s University. She was educated in the field of Human Resource Management, first at Mount Saint Vincent University and later at Saint Thomas University as well as the University of Presque Isle. Roberta was a long time member of the Canadian Paraplegic Association where she served as an Atlantic and National Board Member. She was the proud recipient of the Arthur Stairs Memorial Award for Paraplegic of the Year 1973. Having moved from Halifax to Fredericton on 1979, Roberta became the founding Executive Director of the Volunteer Bureau of Fredericton and subsequently the Executive Director of the New Brunswick Association of Volunteer Centres. She later served several Ministries of the Provincial Government and acted as a Senior Program Consultant on Volunteerism. Her compassion for the poor and disadvantaged stood her in valuable service to many social and governmental agencies, boards, committees and projects throughout the Province where she held the respect of those she served. Forced to retire in 1990 due to chronic illness, Roberta busied herself writing and producing works of personal interest in her 19th Century farmhouse in Cambridge-Narrows overlooking the Washedemoak Lake where she nurtured her gardens, her pets and her guests. Roberta is predeceased by her beloved son, Sean Simmons (Jylene Simmons-Gaudet) and her brothers William (Montreal) and Martin (Halifax). She is survived by her daughter, Bobbi Simmons (Mike Beauchamp) and her grandchildren Jylene Mary and Tristan (Sean’s children), as well as her step-grandchildren Nicholas and Alexandre Beauchamp. Also mourning are her siblings Constance (Renzo Del Medico, Brampton ON), Heather Malone (Truro), Colin Campbell (Marilyn, Halifax), Ian Campbell (Halifax) and Thane Campbell (Halifax), her goddaughter Lauryn LeBlanc, and extended family and friends too numerous to mention. Visitation will take place at York Funeral Home, 302 Brookside Drive, Fredericton, NB on Tuesday April 10, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm following cremation. A Memorial Mass will take place at St. Theresa’s Parish Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 11 am with Father John Jennings as celebrant. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. A heartfelt thank you is extended to the entire staff of the Oromocto Public Hospital, especially the staff of Med 1, for their unwavering dedication, compassion and professionalism over the past 15 months. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com