She is survived by her brother, Aidan McKinnon of Ottawa, Ohio.
Sister Roberta is preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Oread Elizabeth McKinnon-Haferd; four brothers, Richard, Robert, Howard and Gordon McKinnon.
She served as an elementary teacher and organist at the parishes in: Landeck, Custar, and Reed; in religious education and social services at Madonna Hall in Willard; in high school at St. Francis Convent High School in Tiffin and at Cherokee Public School in Cherokee, North Carolina. She taught music education for extension courses for Mary Manse College, Toledo, Ohio and Madonna College, Livonia, Michigan. She also served for ten years in the Diocese of Toledo as the Music Supervisor for the diocesan schools.
Sister Roberta was a missionary on the Cherokee reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina where she was involved in all levels of pastoral presence and outreach ministry in Cherokee and Bryson City, North Carolina. When she returned to the motherhouse she served as the director of the Wholistic Eldering Project in Tiffin, and served the community as a Minister of Prayer and Service. At the time of her death she served the community as a Minister of Prayer.
Sister Roberta had a great love for music and a keen interest in every aspect of life on the Cherokee reservation: religious and pastoral, cultural, governmental, social, and educational. She had a great love for the Native American Indian people from the first summer that she arrived, and that love continued to grow. Her love and dedication for the people has been rewarded by the acceptance, respect, confidence, and love the Cherokees showed her.
She received her Masters of Music Education from the University of Notre Dame in Southbend, Ind.
Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 17, 2014 at St. Francis Home Chapel, 182 St. Francis Ave, Tiffin and from 2:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, February17, 2014 and 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at St. Francis Convent Chapel, 200 St. Francis Ave.
A Christian Wake Service will be at 7:00 p.m. Monday in the convent chapel.
The Funeral Mass will be at 11:30 a.m. February 18, 2014 in St. Francis Convent Chapel with Rev. Frank Murd officiating. Burial will take place immediately in the St. Francis Convent Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis Convent or to St. Francis Home.
Arrangements are under the direction of Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory 214 S. Monroe St. Tiffin, Ohio 44883 (419) 447-3113.