Roberta Burbank

Bangor - Roberta Burbank died peacefully at home on Monday, November 10th, 2025.

Born on April 17, 1945, to Erma (Perkins) and Dwight Leach of Penobscot, Maine, Roberta graduated from George Stevens Academy in 1963. She went on to further her education at the School of Nursing at Eastern Maine General Hospital, graduating in 1966. After becoming an RN, Berta worked in the private practices of Dr. Merriam and Dr. John Houlihan in Bangor. She was also a direct care nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bangor, and she held many positions at Eastern Maine Medical Center, including direct care nursing on M3E and in the Dialysis Unit. She was the nurse recruiter - hiring the best and the brightest for our area; she also worked in social work doing patient placement, and upon completing her bachelor's degree at UMO, she became the Director of Patient Relations, revamping that department into what was a program that many other healthcare facilities emulated. Her nursing background gave her a unique perspective when advocating for patients. Patient Relations was the job she loved the most out of all of them. A favorite quote was, "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care."

Roberta was a pillar of her family, organizing and cooking for generations of loved ones. It was well known in the family that she could make a meal for 30 people with little notice, little to work with, and it would be delicious. She took cake decorating classes and was certified by Wilton to make wedding cakes. She would plan and cater events of all types, and made everyone their favorite pie at Thanksgiving (one year that meant 17 from scratch pies). She was the architect for what in our family became known as "Craft Day" the day after Thanksgiving, we would all gather, and her sisters Rose and Becky would make wreaths from the brush that had been cut in the woods up behind the field, Berta would make dozens of fluffy bows for them with whatever ribbon you wanted. There would be turkey sandwiches, leftovers, and precious family time galore. Her talents, generosity, and warmth will be missed by all that knew her.

Surviving Berta are her adored daughter, Loreli Banister; grandchildren, Jack Day, Megan Cannavan, and son-in-law, Bernerd Cannavan. She is survived by one sister, Margaret Austin, and one brother-in-law, Halford Grindell. She was predeceased by her beloved son-in-law, Thomas Banister; brother, Robert Leach and his wife, Nancy; her sisters, Rebecca Orcutt and her husband, Ernest, Rose Grindell, Esther Austin and her husband, James; brother-in-law Norris "Buster" Austin; nephews, Kerry Leach and Benjamin Austin; and her best friend, Tina Ware. She is also remembered fondly by numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to specifically thank nieces Debby Brown and Dee Grindell and family friends, Anita White and Susan Tracy for their support during this difficult transition.

Services will be held at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St in Bangor, on November 22, 2025. There will be a visiting hour at 11:00 a.m., with the service directly following at 12:00 p.m. The family is honored that the service will be officiated by Berta's friend, Rev. Deborah Jenks. A reception will be held directly following at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor. Interment will be held privately in the spring, her favorite season as a gardener. Flowers welcome.