HAVERHILL: Roberta F. (Preston) Biggart, 86, passed away on January 25, 2020 at High Pointe House surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late William J. Biggart, Sr. to whom was married for 61 years.
Born in Haverhill on October 20, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Mabel Preston.
Roberta was a graduate of Haverhill High School, Class of 1951 where she then went on to two years of business school at McIntosh Business School. She worked for Samuel Roberts and Western Electric for many years. Not one to sit still, she later became the matriarch of Biggart's Ice Cream for 22 years, and Biggart Marine where she enjoyed socializing, greeting customers, running errands and picking up supplies.
Roberta's family was the focus of her life. She and her husband brought their five children up camping, skiing, and traveling the country, visiting every state except Hawaii. She was a devoted member of First Presbyterian Church where she actively brought up her children. Years later, Roberta became a loving "Nana." As a grandmother, she traveled to sports games, concerts, plays, graduations, and weddings. She was deeply proud of her family and wanted to be a part of every special moment.
Roberta's family will lovingly think of her every time they ski, hear bluegrass music, weed in the garden, or when they clink glasses on Christmas Eve.
Roberta is survived by her children, William J. Biggart, Jr. and wife Annette of Atkinson, NH, Sheryl Lambert and husband Mark of Amesbury, Debra Pare and husband David of Salisbury, David Biggart and wife Linda of Hampton, NH, Julieann Lefebvre of Haverhill; twelve grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
Calling hours will be held at Dole, Childs & Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main St., Haverhill, on Thursday, January 30th from 4-7pm. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Haverhill on Friday at 11am.
It was Roberta's wish to participate in the Anatomical Gift Program at Tufts Medical School. In lieu of flowers, donations in Roberta's memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 346 Broadway Haverhill, MA, or Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St, Boston, MA 02114. Online condolence may be sent to www.dcsfuneralhome.com