Katherine Viola Roberts

Katherine Viola (Slone) Roberts (70) passed away at Accolade Healthcare at 9 a.m. on March 2, 2024. She was the second child of seven born to Robert and Margaret (Holtorf) Slone on August 1, 1953 in Litchfield, IL.

Katherine graduated from Gillespie High School. She was married to Reed Albert from 1973 to 1980 and had one son, Shannon Bradley Albert. She later married Richard (Ritchie) Roberts on April 6, 1996. He preceded her in death on April 11, 2004.

Katherine received her degree from DACC in Danville. She became a Teachers Assistant in the early 80s and worked for McKinley School in Danville until it was closed. She then moved to Danville High School and continued as a Teachers Assistant for Special Education. Katherine loved working with her students and made a difference in countless lives during her 35 years with the school district. In addition, she was very active in the Danville Education Association (DEA) holding multiple board officer positions over the years. She was also active with the Illinois Education Association (IEA) and National Education Association (NEA) advocating for the rights of Teachers Assistants throughout the district. She was very instrumental in negotiating bargaining contracts for Teachers Assistants within the school district.

Katherine enjoyed spending time with family and friends, especially her grandsons, Deegan and Oliver. She planned her life around being Grandma. She also loved her cats, Callie, Reuben, Maxwell, Boo and all the Ferrell cats she took care of. She looked forward to weekly breakfast meetings with the Saturday Steak N Shake group from school. Kathy always ordered bacon. She was an avid scrapbooker and enjoyed attending scrapbooking retreats with friends to scrap photos of family and of trips that she took. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who knew her.

She is survived by one son, Shannon (Tracy) Albert, two grandsons, Deegan and Oliver Albert, one sister, Betty (Ron) Stewart, one brother, Dale Slone, both of Dorchester and many nieces and nephews.

Katherine was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Margaret (Holtorf) Slone, husband, Richard Roberts, one brother (Larry) and three sisters (Lisa Elaine, Sheila Marie, and Sherry Lynn).

A Celebration of Life will be held at 7:00 PM on Friday, March 8, 2024 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, Illinois, 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, IL. Jeanne Bohlen will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday, March 8, 2024 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made in Katherines memory to an Animal Shelter of the donors choice.

Please join Katherines family in sharing memories, photos and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com .