Mary Roche Obituary

Mary Anne Roche, 87, died peacefully surrounded by family on September 17, 2018. Born October 20, 1930 in Chicago, IL, Mary Anne Collins was the youngest of three children born to Patrick Joseph and Edna Marguerite Frey Collins. She attended Alvernia High School ('48) in Chicago before attending Quincy College in Illinois. It was there she met and married her husband of 59 years, William Wallace Roche, Sr. Together they raised seven children in homes in Elmhurst, IL and Dallas, TX. Bill and Mary Anne retired to Durango, CO enjoying several years there before returning to Houston, TX to be closer to family. Mary Anne was a remarkably strong, practical and loving mother to her children. In service to others she spent her free time volunteering at her children's schools, reading for the blind, knitting prayer shawls, preparing sandwiches for the homeless, and sending care packages to the Daughters of Charity. She was generous with contributions to local and Native American charities. She was an avid reader, enjoyed needlepoint stitchery and planned many wonderful family vacations in Colorado and New Mexico. She was a model of faith and humility to her family and friends and heaven is a brighter place because of her example.

Mary Anne is survived her children Maureen Lynam (Steve) of Littleton, CO, Billy Roche (Janey) of Dallas, TX, Peggy Burdon (Rick) of Spring, TX, Nancy Muldoon (Pat) of Portland, OR, Terence Roche (Tere) of River Forest, IL, Gregory Roche (Pam) of Houston, TX and Shannon Knight (Rob) of Davie, FL. Sixteen grandchildren Sean Lynam (Tracy), Kelly Pavlakovich (John), Megan Heyn (Patrick), Collin and Ben Roche, Matt Dewhurst (Whitney), Brett Dewhurst (Ryanne), Whitney Burdon, Molly Muldoon, Shea Roche (Annie) and Paul Roche, Jack, Thomas and Patrick Roche, Luke and Cameron Knight, great grandchildren Hailey and Matthew Lynam, Clayton Dewhurst, Hayes Dewhurst. Mary Anne is preceded in death by her spouse, Bill Roche, parents Patrick Joseph and Edna Marguerite Collins, brother Fr. James R. Collins and sister, Mary Patrick Collins, D.C.