CAMBRIDGE - Frances C. Gilbert, 88, of Cambridge, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at Signature Mallard Bay Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Salem, Md., Nov. 13, 1923, and was the daughter of the late Otis Sewell Conaway Sr. and Elizabeth Pinder Conaway. Frances attended schools in Dorchester County, Md. During World War II she met and married the late Louis Edward Gilbert Jr. They resided in Massachusetts for a period of time when he served in the military. Being the homemaker she was, Frances loved to cook, potato salad was one of her favorites. She would often make it for family, friends and the church. We remember her hearty laughter and Saturday cooking, with her favorite question, "do you smell what the cook is cooking?" From this she earned the name from her daughter, "Gilgirls Restaurant." You can rest assured that ice cream buckets or whatever the food was in, her name would be written all over it. Her work career included shucking oysters, skinning tomatoes and various sewing factories. She retired from Channel Marker as a group home counselor. Frances and her late husband were thriving salespeople, selling Rawleigh and McNess Products. She also liked teddy bears, puzzles and wrestling. Sis. Gilbert's spiritual life was spent under the tutelage of the late pastor, Rev. William Alvin Hitchens Sr. She served as a deaconess and sang with the C. J. Branch Singers, speaking fondly of her pastor and his wife. Frances is survived by one daughter, Elder Shirley C. Roberts (Thompsontown); six grandchildren, Marcia C. Banks (Smyrna, Del.), whom she raised, Patricia J. Roberts (Cambridge), Rosalynn R. Baker (Brian), Delmar, Md., Pastor Lavone R. Chester (Cambridge), James E. Roberts Jr. (Pearl), Cambridge, and Timothy Roberts (Thompsontown); 14 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Over the years three nieces and a nephew helped to look out for her, Jennie Travers (Church Creek), Lettie Stanley (Baltimore), Frances Copper (Cambridge); and a nephew, Reginald L. Conaway. She was affectionately called, "Gran Fran" by her great grands; one sister-in-law, Annie Conaway. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by eight brothers and sisters, including her twin sister, Mary; a son in-law, James E. Roberts Sr.; and a grandson in-law, Pastor Lemuel D. Chester II. Services will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012, noon at New Revelations Baptist Church, 711 Bradley Ave., Cambridge, with a viewing Friday evening 6 to 8 p.m., at the church and one hour prior to the services. Interment Monday at noon at the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery Hurlock, Md. Condolences sent to www.henryfuneralhomepa.com.