Alyce M. Fay

Alyce M. Fay (Roche) 86, of Deerfield Beach, FL, formerly of Brighton, MA and Natick, MA, passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 2, 2025. She was born on September 2, 1938 to Martin J. and Anne Roche (Nolan).

Alyce was the first born, followed by her 4 beloved brothers. They grew up together in Brighton, MA. She often told stories about her childhood, about her dad the fisherman who had to be away at sea for extended periods of time. The refrigerator was always full of lobster and seafood. And while the neighbor’s kids were so impressed by this, Alyce grew very tired of eating it.

Once, when she was very young, she fell out of a 3rd story window and landed in a shrub, miraculously unharmed! She attended Our Lady of the Presentation Academy in Brighton. As a graduation gift, Alyce was given a trip to meet her cousin in France. She flew by herself on her very first plane ride. And in the late 50’s, a year after she began working for an executive at Sheraton Corporation, she was named Secretary of the Year! On November 7, 1959 she married the love of her life, Bob Fay, also from Brighton.

Alyce was passionate about her family, and especially her grandchildren. She was a warm and caring grandmother who loved spending time with them, and they were always so happy to be with her! She was a born gardener. Boy, did she love her flowers and trees, and dirt on her hands! She always had the prettiest yard, wherever she lived. From Natick to the Cape, and even at her Florida condo where she wasn’t actually supposed to do yardwork. Wherever she was, there would always be beautiful plants, trees, and flowers.

Alyce was a worker. With 4 young kids at home, she worked as a cashier at the Natick Co-op, a housecleaner, and later as a teller at the Natick Federal Bank. Her favorite job, however, was her last one. She worked at Sears in Display. That meant she could use her creativity to decorate every area in the store. She made up the beds, hung curtains, used throw pillows and blankets, dressed mannequins, and hung signs and holiday décor. Everything that she had been doing her whole life, but now she was getting paid for it!

Alyce is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Robert J. Fay and their daughter Allison, who sadly died at birth.

She is survived by her son Robert J. Fay, Jr. and Karen (Beard) of Natick, David Fay and Katherine (O’Connor) of North Reading, Robin (Fay) and Paul Corrigan of Daytona Beach, FL and Bonnie (Fay) and Karl Zonghi of Hopedale, her brothers and sisters-in-law, Martin and Janet Roche of S.C., James and Diane Roche of S.C., Paul and Maureen Roche of Melrose, MA, Charlie Roche and Mark Pineau of S.C., her beloved grandchildren, Justin and Jesse Beard, Brandon, Bryanne and Kendall Zonghi, Stephanie Corrigan, Dylan and Matthew Fay, and her sweet, great-granddaughter Skylar Little.

A funeral mass will be held for Alyce on September 27, 2025 at 11AM at The Holy Trinity Church, 246 Main St. Harwich, MA.