OBITUARY
Sally A. Rocheleau
February 22, 1929 – March 29, 2021
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.
Services
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Visitation
Monday, April 5, 2021
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Funeral Service
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Memories
Sally A. Rocheleau
have a memory or condolence to add?
ADD A MEMORYJohn Spann
April 8, 2021
Sally
May perpetual light shine upon you forever.
My condolences to the family for your loss.
RIP Sally. You are now at peace.
Renee Shina
March 31, 2021
I can remember coming off the bus every day from school to have snacks with my grandmother. Yummy hot and sour soup, which was her specialty, and plenty of rice with stirfry. I loved her Japanese pancakes and her potato salad. She always said she would not share the recipes, because she wanted us to miss her when she was gone. I miss her now, even though it's been years since I've had her cooking.
I will miss her bright yellow or bright pink track suit as she walked in the University forest with Maggie. I will miss the sight of her working out front in the yard on the hundreds of daylilies we planted by the ditch. I will miss her sitting with my father and watching football every Sunday. I will miss even when she yelled at me for doing something wrong.
Gemom, I miss you so much. I hope you are with PapaJoe and Auntie Christine. I know you missed them so much. Love, Renee.
FROM THE FAMILY
Geemom with stuffed toy poodle
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Shopping at the commissary
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Spring lunch at the Boom House
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Renee with Geemom
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Shopping at the commissary
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Margaret on Geemom's birthday
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Geemom's 90th birthday at Subway party organized by Rochelle
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Spring day at the Old Town Park
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patient Margaret visiting patient Geemom in EMMC at the same time!
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Nishi Tatsumi at her wedding in Japan
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Sally with daughter Margaret, circa 1954
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Wannabeer?
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Fall forest bouquet from Ted
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Sally in Massachusetts
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Posing for pictures with the Governor at the Governor's Restaurant in Old Town
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Three Generations of Diva Fashionistas at the outlet store!
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So many goodies, so little time! The bakery case at the Governor's Restaurant in Old Town
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Shopping with Margaret
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Rochelle does the Geemom's nails!
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Geemom with grand daughters, Rochelle and Renee at 4th of July parade, circa 2010.
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So long. See you later!
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Geemom with her beloved late Maggie, toy poodle, and Rochelle
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Geemom's beloved late Maggie, toy poodle
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Civitan, a fraternal organization, gave Sally a plaque honoring her as their waitress for years, and a faithful friend.
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A hike to Katahdin Lake circa 2007. Mt. Katahdin in background. Geemom with her beloved Maggie.
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Geemom with stuffed toy poodle
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Shopping at the commissary
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Spring lunch at the Boom House
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Renee with Geemom
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Shopping at the commissary
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Margaret on Geemom's birthday
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Geemom's 90th birthday at Subway party organized by Rochelle
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Spring day at the Old Town Park
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patient Margaret visiting patient Geemom in EMMC at the same time!
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Nishi Tatsumi at her wedding in Japan
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Sally with daughter Margaret, circa 1954
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Wannabeer?
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Fall forest bouquet from Ted
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Sally in Massachusetts
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Posing for pictures with the Governor at the Governor's Restaurant in Old Town
FROM THE FAMILY
Three Generations of Diva Fashionistas at the outlet store!
FROM THE FAMILY
So many goodies, so little time! The bakery case at the Governor's Restaurant in Old Town
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Shopping with Margaret
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Rochelle does the Geemom's nails!
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Geemom with grand daughters, Rochelle and Renee at 4th of July parade, circa 2010.
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So long. See you later!
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Geemom with her beloved late Maggie, toy poodle, and Rochelle
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Geemom's beloved late Maggie, toy poodle
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Civitan, a fraternal organization, gave Sally a plaque honoring her as their waitress for years, and a faithful friend.
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A hike to Katahdin Lake circa 2007. Mt. Katahdin in background. Geemom with her beloved Maggie.