Obituary of Roberta M. Harding

A Mass of Christian Burial for Roberta M. Harding of Elsberry, MO, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 28, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elsberry. Fr. Charles Tichacek, church pastor, will officiate with burial in Elsberry City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Keith Dameron, Gil Dameron, Owen Dameron, Dawson Dameron, Chris Dameron, Brad Boedeker, Todd Boedeker, John Boedeker and Rick Boaz. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Harding, Bill Harding and Larry Harding. Mrs. Harding, 78, passed away Christmas Eve morning, December 24, 2013, at her home. Born May 12, 1935 in Waterbury, CT, she was the daughter of Robert Joseph and Marguerite Steinman McCormack. She graduated from Bishop Toolen High School in Mobile, AL in 1953. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Webster University in 1957. She taught elementary grades in the St. Louis Public Schools for many years. In 1969, she earned her Master's Degree in Education and Psychology from St. Louis University. Roberta completed 30 Advanced Education Hours at Washington University. Roberta was united in marriage on December 30, 1976 at St. John the Baptist Church in St. Louis, MO to Errett Linwood Harding. She worked as a reading teacher for Clopton Elementary School in the Pike County R-III School District for 7 years, retiring in 1992. She was a member of the Town and Country Club in Clarksville, MO before she and Errett moved to Elsberry in the spring of 1992. She was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter AI and the DNC Club in Elsberry. She delivered Meals on Wheels for several years. Roberta was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Marguerite McCormack; one brother, John Robert McCormack; and her beloved husband of nearly 37 years, Errett Harding, who died on December 18, 2013. Survivors include her brother, Francis Joseph McCormack of Greensboro, NC; and two sisters-in-law: Clara Addison of Atlanta, GA and Louise Dameron of Elsberry. She also leaves two nephews: Dave McCormack and his wife, Andrea, of Greensboro and John McCormack, Jr. of Orlando, FL; one niece, Carol Spears and her husband, Harvey, of Orlando; one great-niece, five great-nephews; Errett's nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; other relatives and many, many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, December 27, 2013 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Masses in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home; 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.