Roberta Bobby KOWALSKI

14 APR 1927 - 5 JUN 2022

• BIRTH: 14 APR 1927, Soputh Bend, St Joseph, IN
• DEATH: 5 JUN 2022, Soputh Bend, St Joseph, IN

• MARRIAGE: 3 APR 1948, St Joseph County, IN

INDEX

[N32434] Roberta Bobby Kowalski
April 14, 1927 - June 5, 2022

Roberta (Bobby) Hill, 95, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 5. Bobby was predeceased by her parents, Leon E. and Benedictine Kowalski; her husband, Wallace Hill, M.D.; and her brothers, Leonard, James, and Leon E. (Jr.) Kowalski. Roberta is survived by her children: David Hill (Elizabeth Leader); Michael Hill; and Margaret (Steven) Cernak. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Matthew (Julie) Hill; Kathryn Hill (Vivek Venugopal); and Peter, Robert, and Daniel Cernak. Bobby also was blessed with four great-grandchildren: Andrew and Aurelia Hill; and Malaika and Annika Venugopal. In addition to her immediate family, Bobby is survived by many cherished nieces and nephews, with whom she remained close through her 95th birthday. Bobby grew up in South Bend. After she graduated from South Bend Catholic High School, Bobby attended the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Bobby was awarded her R.N. degree in 1949. Bobby wed Wally on April 3, 1948, with Fr. Ted Hesburgh presiding. Bobby and Wally were married for 52 years until Wally’s death in 2000. Fr. Hesburgh joined them for their 50th wedding anniversary celebration. Although Bobby lived in South Bend most of her life, she travelled the globe. She passed on her love of travel to her children, culminating in them taking a Paris-Normandy cruise when Bobby was 90 years old. In addition to travel, Bobby loved gardening and reading, and she was a terrific seamstress. Bobby hosted lively dinners for friends and family, and on holidays she made it a point to include those who otherwise might be alone. After Wally passed, Bobby moved to Holy Cross Village, where she rekindled old friendships and made new ones. More recently, she moved to Fallbrook, California, where she continued to enjoy scenic drives, watching sunsets at the beach, and the Fallbrook Art Center. The family plans to hold a memorial service, celebrating Bobby’s life, at a future date at Holy Cross Village. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: the Wallace and Roberta Hill Minority Scholarship Fund, accessible via: https://cfsjc.org/for-donors/types-of-funds/scholarship-funds/ or to Fallbrook Arts Inc., 103 S Main Ave., Fallbrook CA (Tax ID 33-0504176).

Posted online on June 10, 2022
Published in South Bend Tribune