DAVENPORT - Misao "Jean" Roach, 87 formerly of South Hadley, MA, went to her heavenly home peacefully surrounded by her children on January 24, 2012 in Davenport, FL.
Jean was born on October 10, 1924 in Osaka, Japan.
Misao and her husband, a member of the US military, moved to the United States in 1947. Upon her arrival she helped form the Japanese American Woman's Club of Western MA of which she was president.
She worked hard to learn English and became a citizen of the U.S.; was employed as a long time seamstress at the former Chicopee Undergarment Co. and was known affectionately by her co-workers as “Missy”. Including this job she had worked part-time in the South Hadley School cafeteria system and was known as the "lunch lady".
She is survived by and will be greatly missed by, all those who knew her, especially her four children, William Roach of Davenport, FL (with whom she lived, formerly of South Hadley, MA); Carol (Rodney) Varner of Chambersburg, PA; Joseph Roach and Tara Popec of Belchertown, MA; Frederick (Eileen) Roach of South Hadley, MA; and grandchildren, Ellen (Brad) Markle of Harrisburg, PA; Kurt Varner (Caroline) of Pasadena, CA; Adam (Sarah) Roach of Ludlow, MA; Jill Roach of Chicopee, MA; Brian Roach of South Hadley, MA and her great-grandchildren, Lauren and Natalie Markle of Harrisburg, PA and Kylie Roach of Ludlow, MA. She is also survived by nieces and nephews in Japan.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in MA.
