J. Andrew B. Roberge's Obituary
J. Andrew “Andy” Roberge passed away peacefully at home on January 20, 2022, surrounded in
love by his wife and children.
Andy was born to Andrew Joseph and Lillian (Berube) Roberge of Lawrence, MA on October 6,
1949. One of 11 children, he embraced his role as family caretaker and enjoyed close
relationships with his siblings and their families. There was no such thing as a small family
gathering when Andy was in charge. He was predeceased by sister Anna Murach and brother
Joseph Roberge, and leaves sisters Celina Tine, Agnes Coco, Mary Hosterman, and Lillian
Boutin, and brothers John Roberge, Frank Roberge, Peter Roberge, and Benjamin Roberge.
Andy’s wife, Palma (Coppola) Roberge, was the love and light of his life. His affection for her was
as obvious after 50 years of marriage as it was in their earliest days of courtship. There was
nothing he wouldn’t do for his Honeybunch; theirs is truly a love story for the ages. Andy was a
devoted stepfather to Palma’s three children, John Moon, Margaret Moon Hames, and the late
Laurelle Moon Conte. Andy and Palma then welcomed two more children, Nicole and Andrew
Michael. The family grew to include John’s wife Susan and children Heather and Chandler;
Margaret’s husband Bill; Laurelle’s husband Bob and children David and Angela; Nicole’s
partner Tony and children Carina, Joseph, and Calliope; and Mikey’s wife Wendy and children
A.J. and Kenny. He was beloved Nanu to all his grandchildren and countless others who claimed
him as a grandfather; he happily attended many ceremonies, concerts and other events to
support and cheer them on.
Andy was an authentic Renaissance Man. He could build anything. He could fix anything –
whether it involved plumbing, carpentry, electrical or mechanical issues. He could grow
anything, and used his great horticultural skills to nurture bountiful gardens and fruit trees on
his historic property in Lawrence. He was a shrewd and savvy collector. He was a phenomenal
cook; every year the family looked forward to his spectacular holiday feasts. And he kept
developing new talents throughout his life. He carved beautiful wooden walking sticks. He
mastered a sandblasting process to create intricate etched glass artwork. He designed his own
stills to make his legendary moonshine.
But his greatest gift was his selfless devotion to others. He’d do anything for the people he cared
about – fly a thousand miles to rescue an elderly uncle stranded by car problems; convert the
workshop he loved into a sweet apartment for a brother in declining health; sit quietly for hours
with his daughter day after day to comfort her through a terrible illness. There are countless
other examples of his loyal and generous heart. He was, in every way, the rock of the family.
He held many different positions in his working years, most notably as a plumber, and ended his
career working for son Mikey’s plumbing business. In retirement, Andy fulfilled a lifelong dream
by purchasing 71 acres of mountainside property near Newfound Lake in Alexandria, New
Hampshire. “Going north” quickly became a favorite pastime. He held target practice on the
range he built, watched his grandkids ride ATVs, and drove his Jeep to the top of the mountain
for a gorgeous view with Honeybunch by his side. He relished these simple days spent outdoors,
surrounded by family and nature.
He loved his frequent road trips around the country to visit family and friends. He loved a good
argument; Andy in mid-rant was a wonder to behold. He loved to tinker with things until he
found the perfect solution – then tinker some more to make it even better. Andy spent his life
doing for others and creating beautiful treasures and memories that will endure for years to
come. He was a special, humble, wonderful man. And tough; he fought bravely for years to defy
the odds of his cancer diagnoses, and persevered through many difficult treatments to gain
precious time with his family and loved ones. All who knew him will miss him greatly.
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Monday, January 31, 2022 from
4:00-7:00 PM at John Breen Funeral Home, 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA 01841. Burial
will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Research
Hospital at: stjudes.org.
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