Roberta McGady

Roberta C. "Bobbie" McGady, age 86, passed away surrounded by her family on November 19, 2022. She was the loving mother of John McGady and his wife Karen, Ann Marie White and her husband Peter, Bob McGady and his wife Ann, Mary Ellen McGady and husband Alan Forman, and the late Stephen and his wife the late Dr. Francine Williams. Bobbie was predeceased by her former husband Robert, her brother Jack Balloch, and her sister Claire Reid, whose daughter Johna Reid Mastrogiacomo she especially held dear. She will also be sadly missed by her 9 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, numerous relatives and her many dear friends.
Roberta grew up in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia and attended St. Matthew's School and St. Mary's Academy. She went on to Catholic University of America (1958) and earned her Master's in the Science of Nursing degree from the University of Pennsylvania (1980). She was a school nurse, and later a school nurse practitioner, throughout Philadelphia from 1971 through her retirement in 1998. During her tenure as president of the Philadelphia Public School Nurses Association (Local 3383), she led the blending of this smaller union into the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (Local 3) in order to improve conditions for both school nurses and students. Her advocacy earned her a trip to the White House in 1994.
In her retirement, Roberta traveled widely as well as moved to North Cape May, NJ. After returning to Philadelphia in 2013, she enjoyed exploring her new neighborhood, Queen Village. She appreciated the art and the crafts of others; enjoyed reading fiction, biographies, and essays about society and politics; and even very late in life was particularly interested in hearing what the young people in her life had to say. She was known by people of all ages and backgrounds as a valued neighbor and friend.
Relatives and friends are invited to greet her family on Saturday December 3, 2022, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at Lambie Funeral Home 8000 Rowland Avenue (At Rhawn Street). A memorial service to celebrate her life will follow at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you take time to re-read a favorite book or watch a Peter Sellers or Steve Martin movie or old Carol Burnett or "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episodes while enjoying your favorite ice cream. Or you could do a crossword puzzle in Roberta's honor; she seldom missed the daily crossword.
Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Roberta's name to The Breathing Room Foundation, P.O. Box 287, Jenkintown, PA 19046 or online at breathingroom.com would be appreciated.