Donald W. Roberts

Hardwick-Donald  W. Roberts, former Hardwick Police Chief, passed away on Sunday Nov. 23rd  at his home. He leaves his wife Paula (Wiencek) Roberts, his son Shawn Roberts and his wife Ann-Marie of Barre, his daughters Kim Staiti and her husband Mark of Barre, Cindy Paradis and her husband Richard of Turner Me, his step children Kristen Wiktor, and Deana Talbot and her husband Derrick all of Hardwick, a brother Bruce Irwin and his wife Alexis of Comer Ga.,a sister Linda Newman of Somersworth NH, as well as his grandchildren, Melissa Leslie and her husband Scott, Nicole and Bethany Staiti, Meghan Rodier and her husband Michael, Trent Paradis, Sarah and Kaitlyn Roberts, Olivia and Ethan Wiktor, and Jacob, Seth and Anna Talbot, and one great-grandchild Timothy Rodier. He also leaves an enduring friend in Jeanne Hanson. This enduring friendship and partnership began when Don first came to Hardwick. Jeanne along with her children, Frank, Judy Huber, and Daniel soon became part of his well loved family. He was born in Arlington son of Wilbur and Willena Roberts, and was a long time Hardwick resident. Don's police career began in Hardwick in 1971 serving as an officer until 1976 when he became Chief of Police a position he held until 1997.  He also served as the town's  Constable from 1974 to 1998. Along with his police career he also owned and operated along with Jeanne the Hanson Roberts Dairy Farm for almost 30 years. He also enjoyed a career as a cabinet maker from 1997 to 2010.  He was currently a member of the Hardwick Planning Board a position he held since 1969. He was a Paige Agricultural Fund Trustee, a member of the Hardwick 250th Anniversary Committee, the Hardwick/ New Braintree Police Regionalization Committee, the Worcester County Dairy Herd Improvement Assoc., Hardwick Farmer's Cooperative Exchange Board of Directors and Past-President, Mass. Dairy Herd Improvement Assoc., and the United Cooperation farmer Board of Directors in Fitchburg.Funeral Services will be held on Saturday Nov. 29th  from the Charbonneau Funeral Home in Ware, beginning at 8am (those wishing to join the procession to the church should gather by 8:30 am) with a Services at 10am in the First Universalist Church (The Upper Church) in Hardwick. Burial will be in Hardwick Cemetery. Calling Hours will be held on Friday from 4 to 7 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hardwick Toys for Kids, c/o Hardwick PD, PO Box 575, Gilbertville Ma. 01031.