Obituary: Thérèse Desjardins Robert

Thérèse Desjardins Robert passed away at the age of 94, surrounded by family on February 17, 2024, in her home at Whitney Center in Hamden, Connecticut. Thérèse was the youngest of nine children born to the late Fabien and Emma Desjardins in the small mountain village of Saint-Jovite, Quebec, born in their home above the train station where her father was station master. Thérèse grew up in the Laurentian mountains until she went to nursing school in Montreal, graduating with honors as a Registered Nurse. She married Andre Robert, MD, PhD, with whom she had four children, emigrating to Kalamazoo, Michigan after the birth of their first child, where Andre pursued a career in medical research. Throughout years of child raising, Thérèse was active in the Alliance Francaise and a variety of community endeavors and resumed a career in nursing. Near the time of Andre’s early death to cancer, Thérèse moved to be near her older children in Northern California, where she met her second husband Robert Wylde. She lived out the prime of her adult life among the beauty of Santa Cruz, La Selva Beach, and Morgan Hill, California, working as a psychiatric and chemical dependency nurse and hosting many happy family reunions with children and grandchildren. After Bob’s passing, Thérèse moved to Connecticut in 2012 to live out her remaining years near her youngest daughter.  

Thérèse was first and foremost a loving mother and grandmother who never relinquished that role, expressing love, support, and advice until her last days.  Because of her kind and caring nature, she made close friends wherever she went, with many friendships spanning decades and standing the test of both time and distance. Thérèse was an excellent cook with a flair for entertaining and with impeccable taste in home decorating and dressing. A frequent comment among friends and caregivers was ‘Thérèse is always so stylishly dressed.’ She embraced her French-Canadian heritage, often sporting a beret and becoming once again an organizer of the French club at Whitney Center as a nonagenarian. One of her defining characteristics was her demonstration of courage as life presented its inevitable challenges. She adapted to changing times, creating a beautiful life for herself at every stage. 

What her children especially remember is her loving attitude and warm embrace, and above all the joy she unfailingly expressed upon greeting us whether in person or by phone. She had the special quality of making whomever she was addressing feel they were the center of attention and worthy of that attention. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.  

Thérèse will be remembered by her four children and four grandchildren: Danielle Robert of Morgan Hill, California, Jean-Baptiste Robert of Carmel Valley, California, Pierre and Jamie Robert (Benjamin and Andre Robert) of Eugene, Oregon, and Marie Robert and Earl Glusac (Katherine and Christina Glusac) of Woodbridge, Connecticut.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 9th at 10:00 a.m. at Whitney Center in Hamden, Connecticut, and in Morgan Hill, California in the Spring.  BEECHER & BENNETT FUNERAL HOME, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden in care of arrangements. To leave a condolence for her family, see obituary at www.beecherandbennett.com.