At the largest fall commencement in Southern New Hampshire University history, living history sat among the graduates.Born November 13, 1934 in Hooksett during the Great Depression, Annette Roberge spent her early years on the family farm on Hackett Hill Road. She graduated from Manchester Central High School in June 1953, marrying later that year to Edmond Roberge. Initially enlisted in the New Hampshire National Guard, Edmond and Annette started their family in Manchester, where they had their first three children: Donna, Patty, and Karen. When Edmond became an active duty servicemember for the U.S. Army, the family began to move every couple of years to a different home, both domestically and internationally. Edward’s son was born in Washington D.C., and daughter Michele was born in Germany. But a year-and-a-half after Michele’s birth, Edmond was getting offered a special assignment to Vietnam as an Intelligence Officer. While overseas, he was killed in action, leaving Annette a Gold Star widow with five children. “When you’ve been married for a period of time and all of a sudden you find out that you’re the only one, it’s like you’ve just been cut in half,” Annette said. “Your other half is no longer there.”In order to find more employment opportunities, Annette received assistance through the G.I. Bill to continue her education after Ed’s death. She enrolled at what was then New Hampshire College in 1972 to study computer technology and business, attending night and weekend classes with her children in tow.”I would bring my coloring books, and I would be in there coloring while she was taking class,” said her youngest daughter, recalling the nights with her mom in the classroom.But enrollment while raising five children on her own was a challenge, and Annette decided to put a pause on her formal pursuit of education.”I had to make sure that the welfare of my children came first,” she said. “So, I put my dream on the back bumper.”Over the next several decades, Annette found work in the insurance industry, retiring at 72 and re-retiring at 75 after working for several years in the cafeteria with the Manchester School District.The arts, travel, and time with family filled Annette’s life in the years following. But for her, there was still unfinished business to attend to. In 2017, Annette reached out to the admissions office with what had then become SNHU to see what was needed to finish her degree. Health issues and the pandemic obstructed her earlier on, until just before her 90th birthday this year, when she decided to renew her status as a student once more.When the admissions office replied, she was surprised by what they found. Not only did she had enough credits to receive her Associate’s Degree as far back as 1989, but she had some extra credits as well.For Annette, there was only one thing left to do.”I wanted to get it done because if I start something, I have to finish it,” she said.To do exactly that, the now-grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of 15 was walked up to the stage by her son Saturday morning at SNHU Arena. The mention of her name drew raucous applause, generations of students and families on their feet, witnessing the first-generation graduate mark a milestone, decades in the making.”I’m at a loss for words to describe my feelings right now,” she said, when News 9 asked her to share her thoughts on the celebrity-level reception. “It’s like you’re walking on Cloud Nine.”Annette is now considering getting her bachelor’s degree online with the extra credits she now has. The entire process, she said, is one others with their own challenges can learn from: never give up on your dreams.”If you really, really want to do something, you’ll get there. I did it, and if I can do it, I think anybody can,” she said with a laugh.
At the largest fall commencement in Southern New Hampshire University history, living history sat among the graduates.
Born November 13, 1934 in Hooksett during the Great Depression, Annette Roberge spent her early years on the family farm on Hackett Hill Road. She graduated from Manchester Central High School in June 1953, marrying later that year to Edmond Roberge.
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Initially enlisted in the New Hampshire National Guard, Edmond and Annette started their family in Manchester, where they had their first three children: Donna, Patty, and Karen.
When Edmond became an active duty servicemember for the U.S. Army, the family began to move every couple of years to a different home, both domestically and internationally. Edward’s son was born in Washington D.C., and daughter Michele was born in Germany. But a year-and-a-half after Michele’s birth, Edmond was getting offered a special assignment to Vietnam as an Intelligence Officer. While overseas, he was killed in action, leaving Annette a Gold Star widow with five children.
“When you’ve been married for a period of time and all of a sudden you find out that you’re the only one, it’s like you’ve just been cut in half,” Annette said. “Your other half is no longer there.”
In order to find more employment opportunities, Annette received assistance through the G.I. Bill to continue her education after Ed’s death. She enrolled at what was then New Hampshire College in 1972 to study computer technology and business, attending night and weekend classes with her children in tow.
“I would bring my coloring books, and I would be in there coloring while she was taking class,” said her youngest daughter, recalling the nights with her mom in the classroom.
But enrollment while raising five children on her own was a challenge, and Annette decided to put a pause on her formal pursuit of education.
“I had to make sure that the welfare of my children came first,” she said. “So, I put my dream on the back bumper.”
Over the next several decades, Annette found work in the insurance industry, retiring at 72 and re-retiring at 75 after working for several years in the cafeteria with the Manchester School District.
The arts, travel, and time with family filled Annette’s life in the years following. But for her, there was still unfinished business to attend to. In 2017, Annette reached out to the admissions office with what had then become SNHU to see what was needed to finish her degree. Health issues and the pandemic obstructed her earlier on, until just before her 90th birthday this year, when she decided to renew her status as a student once more.
When the admissions office replied, she was surprised by what they found. Not only did she had enough credits to receive her Associate’s Degree as far back as 1989, but she had some extra credits as well.
For Annette, there was only one thing left to do.
“I wanted to get it done because if I start something, I have to finish it,” she said.
To do exactly that, the now-grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of 15 was walked up to the stage by her son Saturday morning at SNHU Arena. The mention of her name drew raucous applause, generations of students and families on their feet, witnessing the first-generation graduate mark a milestone, decades in the making.
“I’m at a loss for words to describe my feelings right now,” she said, when News 9 asked her to share her thoughts on the celebrity-level reception. “It’s like you’re walking on Cloud Nine.”
Annette is now considering getting her bachelor’s degree online with the extra credits she now has. The entire process, she said, is one others with their own challenges can learn from: never give up on your dreams.
“If you really, really want to do something, you’ll get there. I did it, and if I can do it, I think anybody can,” she said with a laugh.
