William
A.
Roach
May 18, 2015
Resided in Coventry, RI
William Alan Roach, 66, of Coventry, passed away peacefully on May 18th after a long and heroic fight with brain cancer. Bill was born on November 11th, 1948. A birthday he considered very lucky since he never had to go to school on his special day. He was raised in Pawtucket, along with his sister Carol, by his parents William and Genevieve Roach. Having been on the receiving end of many a mischievous prank from her brother, Carol loved him nonetheless and they grew up to be very close. He graduated from St. Raphael's Academy in 1966 and went on to serve our country in the Vietnam War. Upon his return, Bill settled into a career with sales. He was so good at it that people said he could sell ice cream to Eskimos. Eventually, he made his way into the area of jewelry. He worked for Tilden-Thurber Jewelers for many years, in their Providence and Warwick stores. It was at this time he went back to school and became a certified gemologist through the American Gem society. In 1993, after Tilden Thurber's closed it doors, he opened Thurber-Roach jewelers with partner David Thurber. Located in Warwick, Bill bought, sold, and appraised diamonds and other jewelry. He was known for being honest, ethical, and forthright while being a charmer with a fantastic sense of humor at the same time.
Bill married the love of his life, his wife Andrea in 1968. Andrea was his constant companion, whether moving across the country for a time, working together at Thurber-Roach Jewelers, or visiting their favorite restaurants, casinos, or vacation sites. He was a man who definitely knew how lucky he was to have someone who took such good care of him and loved him so much. They had one child, a daughter, Jennifer Lee who they did a big favor for by not going with the middle name Juniper after their favorite Donovan song…. Jennifer grew up and married a wonderful man, Roger Pelletier, who then gave Bill what he used to tell everyone were the best presents he ever got… his two grandchildren, Ryan and Alexandra. From the day they were born, a good son, brother, husband and father turned into the best Grandpa of all time. No one could compete with the grandpa who made "R" shaped waffles covered with ice cream and whipped cream for breakfast for his Ryan and spent hour after hour in the freezing cold ocean with his Allie who loved the water but wanted someone to hold her hand and lift her over the waves. Bill Roach was my dad but it was his destiny to be a Grandpa. He did so many things well but that was what he did best. If you asked him what he wanted to be remembered for, I think that's what he would say. Playing bad student with a little girl who loved to be a reprimanding teacher, ordering Godzilla figures, comics and movies from Japan for a little boy who was fascinated with the monster. Endless patience for "just one more Sea-doo ride" and hours long trips to gather hundreds of crabs along the shoreline… and all those things could be in just one day! Late in life, Bill got to be Uncle Bill again to his much loved great niece Ariana who at just three years old he had already taught to be "bad" in only the fun way that he could.
Bill Roach leaves behind his wife Andrea (Tworog), daughter Jennifer Pelletier (Roach) son-in-law Roger Pelletier, and grandchildren Ryan and Alexandra of Ringwood, NJ. Sister Carol Roach, nieces Erica Dube (Tworog) and her husband Matthew. Diane Edgerton (Tworog) and her husband Kyle, nephew Nicholas Tworog and great niece Ariana Dube, along many other family and close friends including his special angel from hospice Kerry Rosati, all of whom will miss him terribly but has returned home to his parents William and Genevieve Roach (Haley) and grandparents who have welcomed him with open arms.
Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial Thursday, May 21, at 11 am in Ss. John & Paul Church, South Main Street. Coventry. Burial private. Visiting hours respectfully omitted. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to the National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel Street, Suite 200, Newton, MA 02458, will be appreciated.
Bill married the love of his life, his wife Andrea in 1968. Andrea was his constant companion, whether moving across the country for a time, working together at Thurber-Roach Jewelers, or visiting their favorite restaurants, casinos, or vacation sites. He was a man who definitely knew how lucky he was to have someone who took such good care of him and loved him so much. They had one child, a daughter, Jennifer Lee who they did a big favor for by not going with the middle name Juniper after their favorite Donovan song…. Jennifer grew up and married a wonderful man, Roger Pelletier, who then gave Bill what he used to tell everyone were the best presents he ever got… his two grandchildren, Ryan and Alexandra. From the day they were born, a good son, brother, husband and father turned into the best Grandpa of all time. No one could compete with the grandpa who made "R" shaped waffles covered with ice cream and whipped cream for breakfast for his Ryan and spent hour after hour in the freezing cold ocean with his Allie who loved the water but wanted someone to hold her hand and lift her over the waves. Bill Roach was my dad but it was his destiny to be a Grandpa. He did so many things well but that was what he did best. If you asked him what he wanted to be remembered for, I think that's what he would say. Playing bad student with a little girl who loved to be a reprimanding teacher, ordering Godzilla figures, comics and movies from Japan for a little boy who was fascinated with the monster. Endless patience for "just one more Sea-doo ride" and hours long trips to gather hundreds of crabs along the shoreline… and all those things could be in just one day! Late in life, Bill got to be Uncle Bill again to his much loved great niece Ariana who at just three years old he had already taught to be "bad" in only the fun way that he could.
Bill Roach leaves behind his wife Andrea (Tworog), daughter Jennifer Pelletier (Roach) son-in-law Roger Pelletier, and grandchildren Ryan and Alexandra of Ringwood, NJ. Sister Carol Roach, nieces Erica Dube (Tworog) and her husband Matthew. Diane Edgerton (Tworog) and her husband Kyle, nephew Nicholas Tworog and great niece Ariana Dube, along many other family and close friends including his special angel from hospice Kerry Rosati, all of whom will miss him terribly but has returned home to his parents William and Genevieve Roach (Haley) and grandparents who have welcomed him with open arms.
Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial Thursday, May 21, at 11 am in Ss. John & Paul Church, South Main Street. Coventry. Burial private. Visiting hours respectfully omitted. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to the National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel Street, Suite 200, Newton, MA 02458, will be appreciated.
Cemetery
Private
Service
Ss. John & Paul Church
341 South Main Street
Coventry, RI US 02816
Coventry, RI US 02816
