Elizabeth Wilhelmina Louisa Roberts, 88, Died; Former Westporter, Beloved Oma
ROBERTS, Elizabeth Wilhelmina Louisa (nee von TAKATS) December 9, 1933 – April 24, 2022
Born December 9, 1933, Batavia, Indonesia, to parents, Bertalan Jorsef Erno von Takats and Juliana Maria Regina Takats (nee van der Vlies). Elizabeth or Boske, to her friends, began her life in Indonesia where she and her older sister, Phineke, played and attended school.
Her carefree childhood was interrupted by WWII and after spending 3 years in a Japanese Concentration Camp, the von Takats family moved back to the Netherlands where Elizabeth attended a trade school to become a seamstress. In 1953, Elizabeth moved to Ottawa and lived at Carleton University with close friends.
Upon graduating, Elizabeth became a teacher while moonlighting as a seamstress for the diplomats and dignitaries in our nation's capital. Her curious spirit brought her to Toronto where she met and ultimately married John GM Roberts. The newlyweds' journey brought them to New York City where on February 13, 1963, Elizabeth gave birth to Margaret Sophia Roberts. Life in the "Big Apple" transitioned to a Transatlantic return to the Netherlands and it was here that Frederick John Roberts was born on July 9, 1966. Elizabeth's energy was focused on family, and after a few years in Holland, the Roberts family moved to a small house in Westport, Connecticut. Eventually, they moved to Canada, where the Roberts family rented a house in Newmarket before finally purchasing their home in Stouffville.
The house was small, but the yard was not, and Elizabeth used her green thumb to transform the yard into a beautiful garden. Her other passion was for her grandchildren. Being an Oma was a badge of honour, and she would always find time to transform into a Spice Girl or a Jedi knight for her grandchildren.
Like her garden, Heather Elizabeth Drudge, Emma Juliana Drudge, Cameron Duncan Roberts, and Luke Alexander Roberts all grew from Oma's love. Her care, attention and nurturing were unlimited. As the years progressed, Elizabeth continued working in her garden and occasionally volunteered at various events around Stouffville. Elizabeth Wilhelmina Louisa Roberts (nee von Takats) died surrounded by her family on April 24, 2022. She is survived by her husband, John GM Roberts; Margaret Drudge, Heather Drudge, Emma Drudge, Fred Roberts, Christine Roberts, Cameron Roberts, and Luke Roberts.