Joan Cassidy Roach of Lords Valley, PA, passed away at the age of 77 on May 7, 2021, after a long battle with lymphoma. She was surrounded by her family. The daughter of long-time Staten Island residents Paul and Mary Cassidy, Joan was born on December 11, 1943 in Yuba City California, where Paul was stationed for Army officer training. Joan grew up in Dongan Hills and West Brighton on Staten Island, where she lived her entire life until moving to the Poconos in 2011.
Joan attended Blessed Sacrament School, St. Joseph Hill Academy, and Notre Dame College, where she received her Master's in Elementary Education. She then returned to receive a second Master's Degree in Education from the College of Staten Island. She married her beloved husband John (Jack) Roach on Easter Sunday in 1966; they recently celebrated 55 years of marriage. Joan and Jack shared a storybook romance, meeting after he fell for her while she was performing on stage at Notre Dame College. They shared many passions during their long and happy marriage including a love of education, literature, and politics. Together, they raised three children in West Brighton.
Joan was a devoted educator for her entire career, which included many years teaching in Staten Island public schools where she was a leader in Early Childhood programs. She took great pride in working with underprivileged children and ensuring they had access to quality early childhood education. She retired in 2004.
A devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, Joan loved gardening, reading, cooking, and spending time with her family. She was especially dedicated to her four grandchildren, who called her "Yaya." She enjoyed acting and was a star member of The Hemlock Players, a community theater group in the Poconos. A true lover of literature, Joan and several of her oldest and dearest friends maintained an active book club for nearly 50 years.
Joan is survived by her husband John Roach, her sister Susan Cassidy, her sons Brian Roach and Sean Roach, her daughter Amy Roach, her daughter-in-law Ann Groat, and her grandchildren Grace Roach, Julia Roach, Natalie Partridge, and Owen Partridge.
Services will take place at Harmon Funeral Home in Staten Island (https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/staten-island-ny/harmon-funeral-home/1149 ); Thursday and Friday May 13th and 14th, from 2:00-4:00 pm and 7:00-9:00 pm. On Saturday May 15th at 9:00 am we will be holding a memorial service in her honor, also at Harmon Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Residential Hospice Foundation (https://www.residentialhealthcaregroup.com/services/hospice/give-back/ ) in her name.
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