Elizabeth Adjayen Roberts

Elizabeth Adjayen Roberts passed away on Monday March 24, 2025, at Heatherdowns Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Toledo, Ohio.

She was born on January 4, 1955, to the family of Mr. Thomas Jobor Adjayen and Mrs. Victoria Ughojor Adjayen (nee Nomuoja).

At a very tender age, she suffered permanent right leg polio symptoms. Rather than seeing the incident as an impediment to her life, she turned the adverse situation into a spirit of resilience, that was to become a hallmark in her entire life.

Elizabeth started her primary education at Catholic Covent Girls School, Warri, Nigeria and upon completion, she attended the very strict Catholic Our Lady's Girls College Effurun in Nigeria and obtained her West Africa Examination Council Certificate (WAEC) in 1970.

After her secondary education, she took employment with the then Bendel State Civil Service in Nigeria as a Welfare Assistant, with the Ministry of Welfare, Youth and Development.

In pursuit of her career development, and not being deterred by her disability, she proceeded to the University of Benin in the Ancient City of Benin in Nigeria in 1976 and graduated with an honors degree in Sociology in 1980.

Upon graduation, she undertook and completed her one-year compulsory National Youth Service (NYSC) with the then Bendel State Ministry of Welfare and Youth development in Warri, Nigeria.

In September 1981, she took up employment as a graduate entry employee with the above Ministry as a Welfare Officer, with special duties for getting deprived children back to mainstream education. She saw her new role as her calling and channeled her passion into her job, achieving beyond the benchmark set each year.

She subsequently got promoted to the post of Welfare Officer 1 and Principal Welfare Officer in the then Bendel State Public Service. Elizabeth was assigned, with the Portfolio Officer, to bring in deprived children to attain quality education, working in the three major cities of Benin, Warri, and Sapele of the then Bendel State of Nigeria.

In 1990, she received the sponsorship of the Social Worker Staff Development Program with the United States Government and was posted to Cleveland, Ohio, USA. After completion of her training programs, she gained employment as a Social Worker in Cleveland, with the specific roles of getting deprived children to mainstream education; a role she'd performed so well in her career.

In her relentless drive for further education, she acquired a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Cleveland, which enhanced her drive to serve humanity, and continued when she moved to the city of Toledo to continue her career as a Social Worker.

Her joy knew no bounds when she saw the people she had helped achieve their goals and become gainfully employed. She spent her life spreading joy and kindness to anyone she met.

During her stay in Cleveland, she met Steve Roberts, the love of her life. They were married in 1992 and lived as a very happy couple and devout Catholics. Their devotion to daily morning mass at their church of worship showed a sense of faith and discipline. Elizabeth and Steve attended Saint Adalbert and Hedwig Catholic Church, and Elizabeth was an Associate Member of the Sisters of Notre Dame.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, and husband Steve.

Elizabeth’s Life Celebration will begin Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Adalbert and Hedwig Parish, 3233 Lagrange Street, Toledo, Ohio 43608 where the Funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery Toledo, Ohio.

Friends and family, and all who were touched by Elizabeth’s life, are invited to join us to celebrate and thank God for her life.

Urbanski Funeral Home a Life Celebration Home 5055 Secor Road, Toledo, Ohio, 43623 is assisting the family. The Adjayen Family kindly requests that any contributions be made to the funeral home to help with the arrangements. There is a link for online donations on Elizabeths obituary page.

The Adjayen family acknowledges, with sincere appreciation, the comforting messages, floral tributes and other expressions of kindness we’ve received in fond remembrance of Elizabeth.