Dona Jean Heskett Roberts died peacefully in Santa Barbara on Saturday, May 19, surrounded by her family. She was born in Omaha, Neb., on Feb. 26, 1920, to Floyd W. Heskett and Virgie Marie Smith Heskett. Dona met her husband John L. Roberts in Fremont, Neb., in 1937. They moved to Los Angeles in 1941 and started Roberts Optical in Beverly Hills in 1946. Dona was a dispensing optician for 36 years. She was predeceased by her husband in 1980. Dona retired in 1986 and moved to the Santa Ynez Valley in 1987.
Dona was the loving mother of three wonderful children. She is survived by her sister Lynne Judson; sister-in-law Nathalie Heskett; children Ann Roberts Webb, John M. (Isa) Roberts, and Jane Christine Roberts; four grandchildren, Alexander (Elizabeth) Webb, Molly (Kevin) Kappenman, Juan Carlos and Joseph Roberts; and four great-grandchildren, Skylar and Aleah Webb, Finnegan and Poppy Kappenman.
Dona was an elegant and joyful lady. She so loved and treasured her family and all of her friends. She loved to laugh and always found the best in everyone and everything. Dona was an active parishioner at Old Mission Santa Inés. She enjoyed her family, traveling, gardening and bridge.
There will be a Rosary service held on Friday, May 25, 2012, at 8 p.m. at Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 26, 2012, at 10 a.m., also at Old Mission Santa Inés.
– Loper Funeral Chapel, Directors