Roberta (Towne) Goddard Rudavsky

Roberta (Towne) Goddard Rudavsky was welcomed into Heaven during the early evening hours of May 7, 2026, a week after her 88th birthday, following health complications from a radiation treatment. Her children and husband were by her side during her final days.

Not surprising to those who knew her, she was excited about the new adventure ahead and assured us she wasn't sad to go, but rather was looking forward to seeing her parents, siblings, many friends and recently deceased Father Jerry (of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Punta Gorda), whom she and her husband were close to. She stated more than once, with a smile, "I've had a good life, and now it’s time for me to go (pointing upward)."

Roberta considered herself lucky to have grown up on a dairy farm in Vermont. She was born April 29, 1938 to Everest and Helen Miller Towne of Morrisville, the fourth of seven children. She was a natural athlete who loved playing outdoors with her brother Hezzy, drove a tractor by age 12, worked hard in the kitchen helping her mother and sisters feed the farm hands, and played basketball in high school. She was spunky, with a ready smile and a twinkle in her green eyes -blessed with beauty, determination, and enthusiasm.

She married her Peoples Academy high school sweetheart in 1955, Philip A. Goddard Jr. (Tony), and together they settled in Burlington while Tony attended college at UVM. During the early years of their marriage, Roberta took a few classes when she could, all the while being a supportive wife and nurturing their growing family.  She thoroughly enjoyed babies and motherhood. She loved snuggling, reading to her kids, playing with them, and teaching them skills. She was fun, but also strict - a great cook but one who demanded her children eat everything on their plate if they wanted dessert!  

Altogether Roberta had five children over the span of thirteen years. While Tony was pursuing his medical school education for the first eight years, she enjoyed being in Vermont close to family. She and Tony would usually load the kids in the old Ford and spend weekends in Morrisville with parents and younger siblings. 

Their lives soon became more hectic though, after the Med School years were finished in 1963, as they had to move every couple of years while Tony completed his internship in Washington, D.C., military service at Ft. Bragg, and 4 years of surgical training at Mary Hitchcock-Dartmouth Hospital in Hanover. Amazingly, during all the upheaval, Roberta would manage to make each new move a fun adventure for her kids, enticing them with details of their new bedrooms, back yards or playrooms, so they would be excited about what was ahead instead of being sad to leave friends and schools.

Everywhere they lived, Roberta created a cozy, love-filled home. She took interesting jobs to help ends meet -- a telephone operator across from the White House in Washington, D.C., an editing assistant for the Journal of Neurosurgery at Dartmouth College, and the occasional modeling stint -- until they settled back in Morrisville once Tony's surgical residency was completed. She then worked for ten years as office manager for his busy medical / surgical practice at Copley Hospital while also serving a term or two on Morrisville's school board.

After renting a farmhouse for three years, in 1973, Roberta and Tony bought a country house on Elmore Mountain Road that was to be their "forever home".  Roberta enjoyed remodeling and decorating their new home, and was proud of the space and views for hosting get togethers. She loved entertaining, having friends and family over for holidays and was filled with Christmas spirit each year.  If she knew someone was alone for a holiday, she would invite them to join our family for dinner.  She will always be remembered for her delicious meals and gracious way of making someone feel welcome in her home.  

In her late 40's, Roberta began a very successful 25 year career as a real estate agent, ultimately working for McKee Real Estate in Stowe.  She loved walking land to find the surveyor pins, and showing nice country homes.  Her natural elegance, and keen sense for decorating and remodeling were appreciated by her clients. Her motto was, "The improbable I do daily; the impossible takes just a little bit longer!"

Roberta made a point of renting a camp on Lake Caspian each summer for extended family to gather. So many memories were made on the old porch enjoying the lake view and eating camp food! She adored her grandchildren and did her best to see them often. And they adored her! She would plan fun things for them to do when they visited. Her grandkids remember how she would wake them up at her Florida vacation condo, all excited to run down with them to see the sunrise on the beach!

In 2008, Roberta married Frank Rudavsky, a retired Met Life business executive. Together they made their home in Punta Gorda, Florida where Roberta's family frequently came to visit. They both got involved with volunteer work; Roberta devoting several years to working at the Pregnancy Care Center, helping unwed mothers. She and Frank also enjoyed traveling in their RV across our country and Canada, often with their RV group, for the first decade of their life together. They joined a number of social clubs, took several cruises, and later, a very memorable trip to Israel with their church group, led by Father Jerry, which was a very moving experience for them both. Roberta was very interested in politics and world events, and loved her Sacred Heart Catholic church, where she sang in the choir until recently becoming ill.  

She will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. She is survived by her husband, Frank Rudavsky of Punta Gorda, FL, as well as her five children: Toni Goddard Supple and husband Bill of Shelburne; Scott Goddard and wife Maria of Rotonda West, FL; Philip Goddard III and wife Emma of Longmont, CO; Eric Goddard of Williston, and Nicole Goddard Pinette and husband Dan of Highlands Ranch, CO. Her grandchildren Ryan Goddard, Jacquie Goddard, Anna Supple, Laura Supple, Rayne Supple, Dylan Pinette, Samantha Pinette, Austin Goddard, and Kate Estes, with two great-grandchildren, Maeve and Lachlan Estes; her sisters Claire Towne Jordick of Morrisville, Helen Towne Page of Barre, and brother Clarence (Hez) Towne of Morrisville and stepbrother Brown Richardson of Burlington and stepsister Stacey Washer of Morrisville. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Sue McMahon of So. Duxbury, MA; and Lisa Goddard Seidner, of Austin, TX; as well as many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was pre-deceased by her brother Merrill Towne, sisters Nina Allaire, and Ann Darah, first husband Philip (Tony) Goddard Jr., sisters-in-law Donna Couture and Michele Walker, and brother-in-law Bob McMahon.

The family would like to acknowledge the exceptional loving care Roberta received from the nurses at the Tidewell Hospice Home in Arcadia, Florida. 

A Funeral Mass will be held for Roberta on Monday, June 15, 2026 at 11:00 am at Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Street, Morrisville with burial following at the Pleasant View Cemetery and a Celebration of Life gathering for the family immediately afterwards.

The des Groseilliers Funeral Home is assisting the family in funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Tidewell Hospice in Roberta's remembrance(tidewellhospice.org). Condolences and memories of Roberta may be shared with her family at dgfunerals.com.

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