Roberta Hill (Stoessel) Dukes

Roberta Hill Dukes

Mom went home to Jesus on December 5, 2019. She passed peacefully in her sleep, at home, where she wanted to be. She was born on Christmas Day 1932 to Paul and Helen Stoessel. Pop-Pop used to say she decided to come to dinner, causing him to miss his!

Mom graduated from Mount Pleasant High School and went on to study at Goldey-Beacom College. She started taking courses at the University of Delaware when we—Mary and Vicki—were in middle school, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in English the same year we graduated from high school. She continued her education, earning a master’s in Counseling at UD. Mom loved to teach and during her career taught at Claymont High School, Springer Junior High and Brandywine High School.

She was a lifelong, active member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. She was involved in teaching confirmation classes, served as Council president, served in Stephen Ministries and wherever the Lord led her to serve. Mom told us that what she admired most about her mom was her acceptance of everyone for who they were, no matter what. Well, Mom, you were that way, too.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank Dukes, son Michael and brother John Stoessel. She is survived by five children, Vicki, with whom she lived; Mary, Rick, John and Frank, and by seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 am Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 501 Duncan Road, Wilmington, Delaware. (The cross-street is Philadelphia Pike.) Visitation will begin at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the church she loved, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.

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