The time was 10:02 a.m. as we shut off the car. We were late. There has to be some bad karma from showing up late to a funeral.
Luckily, this was not a funeral but rather a Celebration of Life. As I walked up the steps into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Auburn, we were followed by a group of people of all ages. I even recognized a student from Bear River there with her family.
As we entered the church we were ushered down a thin hallway, lined with many doors. As we passed the first door, my mouth hung wide. There was no empty seating. I looked further down, the church had opened a whole basketball court which was filled with folding chairs, all being used. Ushers took us down to the end of the hallway where they had to open another room connected to the basketball court, a stage. The ushers frantically added more folding chairs as people filled them up quickly. As we finally sit down, we have a moment to take in the whole scene. Everyone had their own reasons to show up this day but we all had one thing in common. We were there to support the Roberts family.
Angelique Roberts, the wife of Bear River principal Chris Roberts, sadly passed away on Aug. 21. But on Saturday the 26th of August, it was not a day filled with sadness but rather a day to celebrate the wonderful life Angelique lived and the legacy she left on.
The Roberts family touched many lives throughout the years, so it was no surprise when many Bear River staff and students attended the Celebration of Life to show their support and love. Missy Lorenzo, secretary to Roberts, came to pay her respects.
“They are incredibly selfless people,” Lorenzo said. “The last couple of years I’ve really seen Chris Roberts go to bat for our kids and I’m honored to work beside him. The last couple days have been incredible because I’ve learned that everybody’s impression of Angelique has been the same — she truly was her very truest self to each and every person she interacted with. I feel blessed to have known her.”
Lorenzo was not the only Bear River staff member to have been touched by the Roberts family. Jessica Lee, the activities director, believes that the Roberts family had a positive influence on the community.
“I think that Chris and Angelique are incredibly positive and supportive people that emanate a lot of love,” Lee stated. “People want to be around them and involved in what they’re doing. They’re just supportive.
“A good showing of that is how many people were here today to support them and the community that they’ve created, because of the people that they are. I think Bear River is a better place because of that. They’re just great people and that emanates through the walls of our school.”
The Roberts family embodied love and inspired people. Trent Duffy, one of their close friends and colleagues, felt inspired by the family.
“I was doing some professional development with Chris down in San Diego,” Duffy said. “And I was feeling pretty good, like I’m pretty good friends with him, you know? And that moment when I went down there I recognized that his wife is his best friend. He was just constantly texting her and talking to her. It made me realize that I needed to be better, too. It was really sweet to see how much love they had, and that they’re truly best friends.”
Duffy believes that this love also inspired others.
“Selfless love is what emanates one-by-one and you can see it through her family, and through those that they reach out to,” Duffy said. “They think of others over themselves, and that’s the peace and harmony of a community to think of somebody other than yourself. And they’re a great example of that.”
The Celebration of Life helped to show just how many the Roberts family inspired. Mr. Roberts was surprised by the number of people who came to support his family.
“I know I speak for my entire family, and that means Angelique, too, when I say how amazing it was to walk in that room today and see all those BR families and students in attendance,” Roberts said. “What an incredible community of love and support! I’m so honored and blessed to be a part of something so special.”
Ryan Roberts, a son of Chris and Angelique and a Bear River sophomore, was also happy to see the love and support from the Bruin community.
“It felt really nice, especially all of those people that cared for us and the impact my mom made for each of their lives,” Roberts said. “It touched my heart. She was probably crying her eyes out at the funeral today. She was so happy to see everyone here — all the people that came to see her and my family. It’s just a blessing to see everyone here.”
Just like the Roberts family means so much to Bear River, the opposite is true. The BruiNation is in the Roberts family’s DNA.
“Education is in Chris’s blood and I believe that being in a position to serve the staff and the students of Bear River is what makes Chris whole,” Nevada Joint Union High School District superintendent Dan Frisella said. “His love for this Bear River community runs deep, and there’s not much he wouldn’t do for anyone who considers themselves a part of the Bruin Nation.
“With one graduate, two employees (Chris and Tanner), two Bear River students (Riley and Ryan), and one more student on the way, Bear River very much IS the Roberts family.”
Gabby Gerster, a Bear River junior, was happy to get to show her love to the Roberts family.
“It’s nice that we get to kind of repay him with that after everything that he’s given us,” she said.
The Roberts family has been a true inspiration to many. Angelique will be missed but the community will always remember her as a beacon of love and joy. The family will continue to share her love through themselves.
“The Roberts family as a whole, they’re just great people, great kids, people you want to be around, people you want to associate with,” Lee said. “People that make you smile and you’re just happy to be around.”