Roberta Ann Kennard

Roberta Ann Kennard, 79, of Harbor Springs, Michigan, died peacefully in her sleep on Thanksgiving Day.

Born in Detroit to Robert and Merwyn Rodger, Roberta spent her childhood in Grosse Pointe before attending the Leelanau School in Glen Arbor, where she met Ed Kennard. The two later married, welcomed their sons, Scott and Jonas, and lived for a time on the East Coast while Roberta studied art and design—fields that would shape her life’s work.

Roberta moved to Harbor Springs from Houston, Texas in the early 1970s, drawn to the natural beauty of the area. Fiercely independent, practical, warm, kind, and decidedly stubborn, she built a life defined by creativity and self-reliance. She went into business with her sister, Carol Stringwell, crafting custom wooden furniture, and later founded The Finishing Touch, an iconic and long-standing Main Street shop filled with beautifully curated furniture, accessories, and books that mirrored the spirit of northern Michigan. Her eye for design influenced countless homes and cottages throughout the region.

A designer and craftswoman at heart, Roberta lived by the belief that form follows function. She designed and helped build her own timber frame home in the woods with her partner at the time, Mark Wentworth, using trees harvested from the property itself. Her spaces carried a distinct character and style all their own – with simple and thoughtful details, always connected to the beauty of nature.

Roberta was also a lifelong dog lover. Before her illness, she was often seen walking or tossing a Frisbee to her dearly loved border collie, Toots.

She will be remembered in the homes she shaped, the furniture she built, and the natural beauty she helped others bring into their lives. Her spirit, creativity, and presence will be deeply missed.

Roberta is survived by her sons Scott (Jamie), and Jonas (Laura Witty) Kennard; her grandchildren Cameron, Ty, Lucas, and Beau Kennard; her sister Carol Stringwell; her niece and nephew Britten and Erik Stringwell, along with their children Liipa, Mandra, Nora, James, and Margo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Merwyn Rodger; her brother, Joseph Rodger; her brother-in-law, James Stringwell and her best friend, Beth Wilson.

Roberta’s family extends heartfelt gratitude to the patient and compassionate caregivers at Hospice of Michigan and Pineview Cottage.

Memorial donations may be made to:
- Little Traverse Bay Humane Society
- Women’s Resource Center
- Friendship Centers of Emmet County
- Hospice of Michigan