Helen F. Roberts

Helen F. Roberts died on July 9, 2022, at Alexandria Hospital, Alexandria, VA, at the age of 96. She was a longtime resident of Williamsburg, VA, having lived there for 45 years until moving to Alexandria in 2018.

Helen was born on Dec. 12, 1925, in Philadelphia, PA, the third of five children of Helen Corrigan and Francis O’Hara. She graduated from Abington High School and went to work at Strawbridge & Clothiers. In 1947, she married Edward “Ted” Roberts, Jr. They were married 70 years and had two daughters.

When Ted, who died in 2018 at the age of 98, was asked for his secret to long life, he always pointed to Helen. Some of Helen and Ted’s happiest years were spent in Kingsmill, Williamsburg, with many lasting friendships made there. Her hospitality and care for others was legendary, and she delighted in hosting and feeding her grandchildren, nieces and nephews and their families, as well as old friends and new. Her Irish soda bread, shortbread and peanut pie were family favorites.

Helen was a longtime member of St. Bede’s Church, where she helped with mailings for many years. She also volunteered at the annual Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic. She embraced life in Williamsburg, even appearing as an extra in colonial garb for a Busch Gardens TV commercial.

She is predeceased by her husband, sisters Anne Rogers and Margaret Gartling, brother Edward O’Hara, and grandson Andrew Drupa. She is survived by daughters Kathleen Drupa (John) of Woodbridge, VA, and Eileen Jinks (Mark) of Alexandria, VA; grandchildren Matthew Drupa, Lauren Jinks Coffey (Francis) and Nina Jinks (Damián); and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial mass will be held on Wednesday, August 17 at 11 a.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, 520 Richmond Rd., Williamsburg, VA 23185. Inurnment service will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Catholic Campus Ministry at William & Mary.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen F. Roberts, please visit our floral store.