Obituary of Roberta Sue Papale

Roberta Sue (Williams) Papale, a resident of Barnegat, N.J., passed away Thursday, May 16, 2024. She was born in Tarentum, Pa. and lived 36 of her 81 years in New Jersey. Roberta – "Bobbi" as she was known -- was a 1960 graduate of Har-Brack High School. She attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, The University of Cincinnati and earned her bachelor’s degree (Summa Cum Laude) from William Paterson University. She had Teacher’s Certification In Pennsylvania, New Jersey (Englewood) and the city of Toronto, Canada (Josyf Cardinal Slipyj Catholic grade school). She was the founder and principal director of the Gadfly Repertory Theater Company (New Milford, N.J.) She also established a community theater company in Toronto. She was a member of the Four Seasons Mirage Mermaids and a poll worker for the last six years in Barnegat. Bobbi was a member of the Friends of the Library in Toms River, N.J. She was a voracious reader of books on political subjects as well as the novels of Maeve Binchy and Anne Perry. She also was a knowledgeable movie fan. All who knew her were attracted by her irrepressible humor and boundless energy. Bobbi was the life of the party. She had a million friends. Her sense of humor was infectious, making us laugh even as she beat us in every board game. As a teacher, she was an amazing mentor. Her mark on hundreds of students was everlasting, not only through her classroom teaching but also for her student productions in Cincinnati, Toronto and Englewood. A recent example: While in the checkout line in a grocery store, a young man approached her and said, “Mrs. Papale – do you remember me?” After he identified himself and she recognized him, he reminded her that she taught him how to read and to love books, and that he was now the chief of police in his town. In short, her life force was incomparable and we shall miss her deeply. She is survived by her husband, Henry Papale Sr.; her daughter, Jennifer Rignani, of Edinboro, Pa.; her son, Henry Jr.; of Barnegat; her three grandchildren, Lili, Sofia & Violet; her brother, David, of Tarentum; and her sister, Layne Williams, of Midland Park, N.J. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to World Wildlife Fund.