Obituary: Floretta (Fama) Roberts

Floretta (Fama) Roberts

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Floretta (Fama) Roberts, age 90, peacefully passed with the guidance of angels into the presence of God at her home on March 25, 2026, on what would have been her late husband’s 100th birthday, following a very short illness.

Born in Niagara Falls, New York, to the late Antonio and Victoria (Janese) Fama, Floretta attended local schools and married the love of her life, John Roberts, on May 23, 1953, at St. Joseph’s Church in Niagara Falls. Mr. Roberts predeceased her in October 2015.

As her children grew older, Floretta returned to school, completing her GED and then attending Niagara County Community College, where she obtained her degree in nursing and became a registered nurse. She worked as a registered nurse at both Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital, including Schoellkopf Health Center, and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital. Her love of nursing inspired several of her nieces to also pursue careers in nursing.

Known also as an immaculate housekeeper and excellent Italian cook, Floretta loved making her sauce and sitting down to a nice dish of spaghetti loaded with Pecorino Romano and hot red pepper! There are fond memories of many Saturday morning breakfasts with “gram” at “The Georgian” and Christmas dinners with homemade ravioli and cutlets.

An avid fan of Luciano Pavarotti, the “Three Tenors” and Andrea Bocelli, Floretta had a beautiful singing voice, often singing in Italian along with her favorites. In her last years, she was proud to teach her home care aides how to perfect some of her Italian dishes, and also entertained them by singing in Italian.

Floretta was happiest being in the home in Lewiston, which she and her husband built in 1999. Her last wish of being able to live out her life in that home was made possible and fulfilled by her granddaughter, whom she called “my angel,” Cara (Roberts) Silversmith and her husband, Don Silversmith Jr., along with the assistance of those Floretta called “my girls” over the past 17 months: her former but still daughter-in-law Diane Perri Roberts, and her home care aides Sharon Woodley, Ashley Sarazin, Kari Ann Richards, Diana Phinney, Tammy Jackson, Melissa Marrara and Melissa Payne. Floretta was also lovingly cared for by her nieces, Cynthia Gorrow Chmaj and Georgina Baratta Colangelo, and her nephew, Antonio Baratta, in her last weeks.

Floretta was also cared for and is survived by her devoted and loving sister, Toni (late Louis) Baratta, and her loving brother-in-law, Italo (Lidia) Roberto. She is also survived by a sister, Vicki Jo Fabiano, several sisters- and brothers-in laws in Italy, and several cousins. Floretta was predeceased by her sisters, Karolyn Gorrow and Katherine “Kitty” Caligiuri Elia. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews locally and also in Italy.

Funeral services were held privately. Donations in Floretta’s memory may be made to the Niagara County SPCA.