Joseph M. Roche

Joseph Michael Roche, beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away at his home in Lowell, MA, on March 24, 2024, after a period of ongoing health complications.

Born on November 17, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late John and Mary Roche, as the third of nine children, he spent his formative years in Newark, OH, attending Newark Catholic High School. Joe was an Ohio State Buckeye through and through, having obtained his undergraduate degree there in 1972. He later earned his MBA from Miami University in Oxford, OH. Joe spent his professional career in Direct Marketing, working with retailers such as Talbots, LL Bean, Appleseed’s, and J Crew, among others. During his long career, he deservedly earned a reputation as an expert in his field.

Joe was a proud and devoted father, or “Faja” as they sometimes called him, to his two sons Matt, of Acton, MA, and Josh, of Reading, MA, and father-in-law to their wives, Bridget (Johnson) and Bridget (Dowdle). His greatest joy in recent years was his role as “Pops” to Matt and Bridget’s sons, Hunter, Thomas, and Nathan, and “Ampl Roche” to Josh and Bridget’s children Conor and Nora Jane. They are immensely grateful that he made the move back to Massachusetts to watch them grow and be there in person for the events of life, big and small…often with a loaf or two of his famous cinnamon bread to share.

In 2007, Joe and his two boys went on “the trip of a lifetime,” bicycling across the United States, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, for over four months, stopping at many baseball stadiums along the way. Matt and Josh will treasure those memories for the rest of their lives. Joe was also a beloved college professor at Nasson College in Maine and an accomplished actor, performing in plays for many years. Most recently, he performed with the Atlantic Stage in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he spent many years enjoying friends and year-round sunshine before moving back to Massachusetts to be closer to family.

He is predeceased by his parents, John and Mary Roche, brother James Roche, and sister Maureen Weygandt. He is survived by his sister Peg Roche of Naples, FL, brother Jack (Phyllis) Roche of Chagrin Falls, OH, sister Mary Pat Roche of Woodburn, OR, brother Jerry (Mary Jean) Roche of Hope, RI, sister Monica (Brendan) VanDeventer of Bristol, RI, and brother Jeff Roche of Coral Gables, FL, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and longtime friends.

Joe was a true people person, forging genuine friendships and connections at every stage and phase of life. To honor his memory, his family will host visiting hours at Doherty-Barile Family Funeral Home at 11 Linden Street, in Reading, MA, on Wednesday, April 3, from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s name to The American Heart Association.

All who knew and loved Joe will miss his sense of humor, kindness, and generosity immensely, yet it will live on in our hearts forever.