Frances (“Fran”) Roach, 93, died after a brief illness on Feb. 5, 2025, surrounded by her children, returning to her great love and partner, Frank Roach MD, from whom she had been widowed nearly 39 years. Born on Aug. 19, 1931 in Chicago to John and Mary Kelley, she was fourth of five children in a close-knit family, each sibling having pre-deceased Fran: Timothy (Mary) Kelley, Ruth (Al) Bertels, Mary Eileen Kelley, and Kitty (Harry) Price. A 50-year resident of Oak Park, she and her husband, Frank, raised seven children in Oak Park, all of whom attended local schools, including OPRF High School.
She graduated from St. Gertrude’s grade school and Immaculata High School in Chicago. Encouraged by Monsignor John J. Egan and others, she spent the following four years as a labor organizer for the Young Catholic Workers, traveling to Chicago, Toronto, Detroit, and San Francisco. She earned a scholarship to the University of Chicago, where she was introduced to Francis L. Roach. They married in 1957 and were blessed with a rich, loving marriage, cut short by Frank’s cancer and death in 1986. She mourned his loss the rest of her life, but kept busy “organizing” — children instead of labor unions.
She and Frank were among the founders of Alcuin Montessori School, still operating today. Her beef stews were coveted by the good souls of PADS, for whom she cooked for years. A longtime member of St. Edmund Parish, she was an early supporter of the Oak Park Housing Authority and an early board member of the Oak Park Farmers Market. After Oak Park, she lived in Riverside for 10 years and spent her final five years in The Birches Assisted Living in Clarendon Hills.
Fran is survived by her children, Cathaleen (John Filosa) Roach, Timothy Roach, Erin (John) Hupp, Daniel (Tammy) Roach, Stephen Roach, Anne (Tim) Adams, and Paul (Megan) Roach MD; her 12 grandchildren, Ciara (Jack) Behm, Daniel (Jess Perez) Hupp, Paul Hupp, Frank (Rosalyn) Filosa, Neil Filosa, Helen Roach, Maeve Roach, Fiona Roach, Margot Roach, Nate Roach, Mollie Adams, and Grace Adams; and a legion of cousins, nieces, nephews and their children, whom she also adored. Her wit and wisdom, her love for the outdoors and travel, and her warm, generous spirit will be missed.
Services are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22 at St. Edmund Church in Oak Park, 9:30 visitation and 10:30 funeral Mass.
She will be buried on Washington Island with her husband. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Washington Island WICHP (Washington Island Community Health Program) or the Oak Park Conservatory botanical garden are appreciated.
Funeral services were arranged by Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Brookfield.