Obituary of Roberta Gail Wells

With sadness we announce that Roberta Gail Wells passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Bethesda Regional Health Centre, Steinbach, MB, after a brief illness with Influenza A.

Roberta is survived by daughter Roxanne Cyr, daughter Nichole and husband Colin Hiebert, and grandsons Carson and Conall Hiebert. Roberta is also survived by nephews Robert and wife Joanne Gordon, Bradley and wife Teresa Gordon, and niece Gail Bedosky and partner Mike Nadwidny and their families. 

Roberta is predeceased by her parents, sister Marilyn and brother-in-law Keith Gordon, ex-husband Leo Cyr and a newborn daughter (a twin to daughter, Nichole).

Roberta was born in Winnipeg on May 25, 1942, to Robert and Alice Louretta Wells of Marchand, Manitoba. Roberta grew up on the family farm and attended Cedar Grove School, the one room school house taught by her mother.  

As a young person Roberta rode ponies and horses, and she later shared her love of horses with her young children. As an adult Roberta enjoyed gardening, puzzles and creative interests like embroidery and ceramics. Her family was so proud of her when, in her 60s, Roberta returned to school and earned a Health Care Aide certificate from Red River College. 

At age 49 Roberta moved her home to the yard site of the family farm. A highlight of Roberta’s life was in 2011 when a new family home was built on that farmyard. Like her mother before her, Roberta was able to stay at the family homestead until the end of her life. Remarkably, Roberta was the last family member with the Wells surname to live along Wells Road, over 70 years after the farm was first purchased. It was important to Roberta that the farm will continue under the Wells name through her children and grandchildren.

Roberta was a very shy person, but was also very humorous, lively and entertaining. She had a soft spot in her heart for animals. She will be missed by her family.

Roberta asked that she not have a funeral service. Her ashes will be interred near her parents at Avonlea Cemetery in a private family ceremony at a later date.