Roberta Heather Portugaise (nee Brown), died peacefully at home on the morning of Saturday, August 13 at the age of 82 after a five year battle with cancer, which she fought with her customary grace, selflessness and humour. “Grammie” will be deeply missed by her three children – Nancy Sohm (Fournier) of Callander, Tim Portugaise of North Bay, Robert Portugaise of Bloomfield, Michigan, and their spouses (Angela Fera and Naomi Kaibara Portugaise), as well as grandchildren Ryan Sohm (Julie Laperriere Sohm) and Justin, Mika and Aiko Portugaise. She was predeceased in 1995 by her husband of 40 years, Leonard Portugaise and over the years by her parents Charles and Ella (nee James), three of her sisters (Barbara Piper, Lorna Greene, Patricia O’Hara) and a brother (Charles Brown), but will be remembered by sisters Sylvia Lefebvre and Diane (Bud) Barley, and many nieces and nephews.
Respecting her wishes, Roberta will be cremated through McGuinty’s Funeral Home. A small service will be held at her interment at Holy Cross Cemetery on September 3, 2016 at 11:00 am. The family wishes to express its gratitude to Dr. Jinnah and the many doctors and nurses both at the Northeast Cancer Centre, the North Bay Regional Health Centre and especially to the Victorian Order of Nurses – particularly Jaiamen, Darren and Bonita. In lieu of flowers, donations in Roberta’s name to the Victorian Order of Nurses (www.donate.von.ca) would be gratefully appreciated.