Sally A. Rocheleau, age 92, of Old Town, Maine passed away on Monday, March 29, 2021. Sally was born on February 22, 1929. She passed peacefully, in her sleep, with her daughter, Margaret and grand daughter, Rochelle close by.
Sally was born in Japan. Her given name was Nishi Tatsumi. She grew up during the tumultuous times surrounding World War II. She was on a ferry boat that docked in Hiroshima harbor, on her way to work on the morning of August 6th,1945. She survived Hiroshima, and the post-war American occupation.
It was there that she met her U.S. Army husband-to-be, Joseph John Rocheleau who preceded her in death in 1995. Joe served with General Patton's army in Europe. After the war, he was transferred to Japan. It was there that he married Sally, in 1951.
Sally then moved to America with Joe, not knowing the language or anything else about the culture. Joe's family eventually came to appreciate Sally's perseverance and grit. Joe and Sally produced four daughters; Margaret, Mary, Barbara, and Christine. She raised them as an Army wife, moving frequently to new bases, including deployments overseas. She also worked as a popular waitress in Annapolis, Maryland, at the Dockside Restaurant. Civic organizations holding meetings there would always ask for Sally to serve them in her inimitable style.
After Joe retired from the Army, they moved to Old Town, Maine in 1990. Sally occupied herself with gardening, knitting, and crocheting. She also was witness to the raising of her grand daughters, Rochelle, and Renee. She enjoyed hiking and her pets, especially Maggie - her toy poodle.
As her health declined, she maintained her optimism and trade mark stubbornness. Margaret and Rochelle, and her son-in-law, Ted took care of her for years so that she passed away in comfort, in her own home. She will be greatly missed.
She is survived by three of her daughters and son-in-laws as follows: Margaret and her husband Ted, Mary and her husband L.C., and Barbara. Her husband, Billy, is deceased. Her youngest daughter, Christine, died in 2009. Her husband, Greg, lives in Delaware. She has seven grand children; Anne, Robert, Ryan, Michael, Amanda, Rochelle, and Renee.
Viewing will be Monday, April 5th, 5 - 7 p.m., with services on Tuesday, April 6th at 2 p.m. at Birmingham Funeral Home.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BirminghamFuneralHome.com for the Rocheleau family.
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