Joan Robare retires after 45 years on Roscoe Township Cemetery Board

Joan Robare has probably attended more funerals than anyone in Roscoe. As a former member of the Roscoe Township Cemetery Board (now the Cemetery Committee), she made it her duty to attend nearly every burial at the three Roscoe Township cemeteries: Pinnacle Hill, Willowbrook, and Roscoe. Robare said she considered her attendance as a way to show respect.

She also assisted with mortuary calls and helped families find relatives and friends

Her other duties included meeting with families needing to purchase grave sites, and overseeing mowing and repairs at the cemeteries.

After 45 years, Robare stepped down in June, and relinquished her role on the Township Cemetery Board which began in March 1976.

Robare has lived a full life. She was born in 1929, and grew up in the Harlem/Loves Park area.  Her early learning was at a two-room school.

Years later, she graduated from the University of Illinois with three degrees: Dietetics, Education and Library Science.

She was employed at Manchester School in North Boone and the Kinnikinnick School District in Roscoe.

She married David Sunstedt and raised three sons: Craig, David and Bernard.

She later married Fred Robare, who passed away in 1995.

“I retired from teaching 28 years ago, and worked at a needlework shop in Rockford for a few years, which I really enjoyed.”

Robare is an avid reader and enjoys audio books.  “I have always liked gardening, although I can’t do much of that these days.”

She admits to getting lonely sometimes, but her many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren keep in contact, especially her son Bernard and his wife Cindy.

Being on the Township Cemetery Board was a big part of her life for many years. “I miss it.” she said