B: 11/23/24, D: 12/9/21
Through her extended family, Roberta leaves a legacy of two children and two stepchildren, five grandchildren and one step-grandchild, five great grandchildren and three step-great grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Born in Norwood, Michigan south of Charlevoix on November 23, 1924, daughter of Fred Frances and Nina May (Holecheck) Hull, she attended the Norwood and Charlevoix schools, graduating in 1942. She married Kenneth L. Empey on September 24, 1942. Roberta married Robert S. Hamilton of Charlevoix on March 30, 1973. During her life, she worked as an Administrative Assistant for a local manufacturing company in Charlevoix and at numerous women’s clothing retail establishments, and prior to retiring to live in Mason, Michigan in the early 2000’s, she and Robert lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia and managed an apartment complex in the Lansing, Michigan area. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crafts, and sailing large sail boats in Charlevoix and throughout the Great Lakes.
She is survived by a son, Ken Empey (Carole) of Dexter, and a daughter Lorraine Stebe (Jerry) of Wyoming, Michigan, and step-daughters Christine Hamilton Gengle of Charlevoix, and Judith Hamilton Lane (Chuck) of Cheyenne, Wyoming, grandchildren Margaux and Nicholas Empey (Amanda) of Plymouth, Sheri Lynne Gilhespie (Ken), Lori DeRaad (Marty), and Rob Stebe of the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, and step-grandchild Jennifer Malone (Mark) of Dearborn, Michigan, great grandchildren Dustin Stebe, Robert (RJ) Stebe and Ricci Stebe, Brandon DeRaad and Nikki DeRaad and step-great-grandchildren Grace, Audrey and Margaret Malone, and great-great grandchildren, Lilah, Maya, and Kyrin Stebe, Roxanna Nietling, and Shyloh and Luna DeRaad.
Roberta was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Nina Hull, one brother Bud Hull and one sister Dorothy English, and her husband Robert Hamilton.
Services for the immediate family will be held privately, and donations in her memory can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, the Kresge Rehabilitation Center of Chelsea Retirement Community or the Hospice services provider of your choice.
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