Irene L. (Kapp) Roberts

Irene L. Roberts

Age 87 of Roseville,

Passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on October 7th, 2025, after a courageous six-year battle with Melanoma. Her passing was just one day shy of her 88th birthday. She was preceded in death by her parents, Philip and Marie Kapp and her sister Marlene Freyberger (Kapp). She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Saxe Roberts Sr., who provided loving care especially in her last years. She was also survived by her 3 sons, Saxe Jr. (Christy), Keith (Kim), Kent Sr. (Semonia); 11 grandchildren (Zach, Millie, Josh, Julianna, Annie, Zeke, Nora, Gideon, Phoebe, Kent Jr. and Xavier) and many other loving family and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, October 16 at 10am with a visitation one hour prior at The Church of Saint Agnes (535 Thomas Ave W, St. Paul MN 55103). A Rosary will precede the visitation at 8:30AM. Private burial for family to take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials preferred to the family. 

Irene’s life began as Irene Kapp in a Pre WWII, close knit German immigrant community in the Frogtown area of St. Paul, right off Minnehaha Avenue, just a few short blocks from her beloved St. Agnes Church and School.

Irene attended St Agnes Grade School and High School and graduated from St. Agnes High School in 1955.

Because of her impassioned love for children, she continued her education at the University of Minnesota where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary School Education. After graduation, Irene taught at both the Early Education and Primary School levels.

After her marriage, Irene continued as a substitute teacher in the St. Paul School System.

However, after marriage, the next phase of her life brought many changes. She became a mom to three growing boys: Saxe Jr., Keith, and Kent. There was less time for teaching and more time for nurturing. She was quite the mom, dealing with all the mischief involving three growing and competitive young boys.

Considering Irene’s background (growing up with no brothers, a sister, a mom, and an opera loving Austro-Hungarian Father), there was no interest or time for sports. Irene said she “was always chosen last”, in school yard physical activities. However, beyond every one’s belief, the next major phase in her life was serving as a “Hockey Mom,”.

First, it was the Mites, then Squirts, then Pee-Wees, and finally Bantams. All this was followed by High School hockey at Alexander Ramsey. But it didn’t end there as the boys moved on to College Hockey at St. Thomas. We can’t remember her ever missing a game. Pretty good shepherding by this one-time failed athlete.

Irene will be greatly missed by her family and those who loved her. She was a super loving mom who had so many great qualities it’s hard to list them all. We want to tell some stories here to give you a glimpse into the wonderful woman she was.

She was a very kind and compassionate mom who loved her children and took incredible care of us when we were sick. She was the pseudo mom for all our friends in the neighborhood. She took care of any friend we brought over to our house. She fed them and made them feel at home. Once a 5th grade friend broke his hand playing football that day and stayed overnight. I’ll never forget how my mom babied him like he was her son and cared for him with such compassion, staying up with him the whole night. She made him feel like he was her own son. This man is over 60 years old today and he still remembers the compassion Mom showed him in a time of need.

Irene was an incredible piano player like her sister, Marlene. She was like a maestro, and we wish we could hear her play today.

Mom loved children a lot. She got her degree in education and loved to teach when time afforded it. Mom was so dedicated to us as kids. Once, she stayed up the whole night sewing Batman, Robin and Superman costumes so we could wear them to school the next day!

Mom had a mama bear side to her as well. We grew up in a neighborhood in the 70’s where there were some fairly mischievous older kids (“the big kids” we called them) and one time, one of the “big kids” bullied our youngest brother Kent and mom went on the war path and literally took on about five of the neighborhood bullies and nearly scared them to death with her words! Needless to say, the neighborhood was a much safer and peaceful place after that.

Once, mom came to the rescue of a teenage boy being bullied at a Dairy Queen store on the East side of St. Paul where we were that day visiting her mom (Grandma). A group of bullies had knocked the boy’s ice cream cone out of his hand and roughed him up. He looked humiliated and scared. From her driver’s window, mom yelled at the bullies and scared them away and then she got out of the car and ran over to the kid who lost his cone and consoled him as she patted him on the back. She bought him a new cone and handed it to him. The kid was shocked. He was so thankful and again, it demonstrated the compassion this great lady exhibited to anyone in need.

Mom and Dad had numerous pets growing up and until a year ago when their beloved Louie, an English Pointer, passed. She loved Louie and Samson, their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rocky our St. Bernard and two cats Barney and Boots.

Mom’s love knew no bounds. She set an incredible example for compassion and kindness towards others. Although birth moms are irreplaceable, many of our friends remember Irene Roberts as their second mom. Mom also took in her daughters-in-law as her own.

Mom was a wonderful Grandmother as well and she loved her 11 grandchildren immensely. She sewed them costumes, read them thousands of books, told hundreds of stories and remembered all of their birthdays with cards and gifts she selected just for them. “Gramma Renee” was loved by all her grandkids as well.

Mom loved celebrating holidays and so did we as her kids because she made them fun. She would stay up super late cooking, and we had the best Christmas and Thanksgiving meals you could imagine. To be sure, she made certain everyone was full! She loved to give gifts to her family and was constantly collecting thoughtful items and writing notes explaining the item and why it made her think of them.

She had an incredible memory, and we will forever cherish our memories with her. We thank God as we remember her life, and we will never forget her.

Finally, Irene was a devout Catholic and had a deep love for her Catholic faith, in the mercy of God, in his son Jesus Christ, our Blessed Virgin Mary and the holy Rosary. She prayed often and devoutly for her family and trusted deeply in God’s care for them all after her departure from this life. We implore that you continue to pray for the repose of her soul.

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