VANLAANEN, Roberta Susannah

Roberta Susannah VanLaanen, a Fountain Hills resident since 1995 and part-time Arizona resident since 1978, passed away at her home on May 1, 2009, with her family by her side. Born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, Nov. 15, 1918 to Robert B. McCormick and Florence A. Reeder, Roberta was the older of two daughters. She attended Meadville High School and graduated from Rollin University in Florida with a degree in journalism. She was a member of the golf, swim and horseback riding teams. Roberta loved adventures and traveled extensively throughout the world. Always with a journal and a camera in tote to record every new destination and if she could schedule a game of golf, she considered the trip perfect. An avid golfer since high school, she holds numerous trophies from various events throughout the United States. Her most prized were two from the Pinehurst Women’s Invitational. Roberta held various positions and memberships in the Fountain Hills area: Club East Women’s Golf Assn., Fountain Hills Golf Assn., Fountain Hills Art League, Fountain Hills bridge groups, Phoenix Art Museum, DAR, Alpha Theta, Boyce Thompson Arboretum and docent, Desert Botanical Garden. Roberta was a juried artist n Arizona and Wisconsin and was quite generous with her work. She donated pieces for charity events and gifted her family and friends. Roberta was an avid supporter of the environment throughout her lifetime. She volunteered and worked diligently for many groups to promote and educate about the fragility of our planet Earth. Roberta is survived by her three children, Robert (Bette) Parmentier, Leslie (Chuck) Hagmann and Jules (Kathy) Parmentier; grandchildren, Christine and Robert Parmentier, Laird (Ande) Hagmann and Ashley (Eric) Cooley, Hayley and J.J. Parmentier; great grandchildren, Kylie and Logan Hagmann; nieces and nephews in California, Nevada and Wisconsin. Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, Lance J. VanLaanen; her parents, Robert and Florence McCormick; and her sister, Josephine F. Cochran. Roberta will be remembered for her insatiable desire to learn and her ability to make it so much fun. At Roberta’s request there will be no formal memorial service. She will be placed next to her father in Lock Haven, Pa. Memorials may be made in Roberta’s name to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014. Fountain Hills Times May 13, 2009.