Ellen Roach

Madison - Ellen M. Roach, 82, of Madison, Wisconsin died on Sunday April 12, 2015 at St. Mary's Health Care Center after a lengthy illness.

Ellen was born January 13, 1933 in Appleton, Wisconsin to John and Margaret Roach. The family moved to Madison in 1939 where she attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School. So began her lifelong commitment to education and teaching.

Following high school Ellen entered the Congregation of Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, finishing her education at Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois. Her first teaching assignment as a Dominican Sister was in South Sioux City, Nebraska where many of her students came from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Ellen went on to teach in city grade schools in St. Paul and Milwaukee. After leaving the Dominican Order, Ellen continued her teaching career in Sussex, Wisconsin before returning to Madison to teach for several decades in the Madison Public Schools, many of those years at Franklin Elementary. Ellen's children were her students. She held a special place in her heart for young people from poor and difficult circumstances. Long after her retirement, Ellen and her family would hear from students who benefited from her passion, discipline and humor.

Ellen was particularly proud of her Irish heritage, enjoying several wonderful trips to her Celtic homeland. Ellen found joy in the company of the many rambunctious dogs she had as her animal friends through the years. Ellen was also a remarkable holiday hostess, miraculously arranging to have Santa Claus himself visit her Glenway Street home each Christmas season, much to the delight of her grandnieces and nephews. Ellen also had great fun taking summer vacations in the company of her many close teaching friends at the family cabin in the north woods of Vilas County.

Ellen is survived by her brother John James Roach, who she always called Jack. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Mary Lou Roach, and her many nieces and nephews, including John (Diane) Roach, Robert (Julie) Roach, Mary Beth (Gary) Drabik, Susan Roach Cates, Dan (Carol) Roach, James (Heather) Roach, Terry Roach, Mike Roach, and Ann (Lee) Haase, as well as 19 grandnieces and nephews, and three great-grandnieces and nephews.

Ellen was preceded in death by: her parents John Wiley Roach and Margaret McCann Roach, her brothers Bobby and Patrick Roach, her nephew Patrick Roach, and her niece Ellie Roach Consigny.

To honor Ellen's life, a visitation will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church (2121 Rowley Ave, Madison, WI 53726) from 10AM until Noon on Wednesday April 15, 2015 to be immediately followed by a Mass presided by Fr. Patrick Norris. Ellen will be laid to rest in St. Joseph Cemetery in Appleton.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Blessed Sacrament Grade School in Ellen's name. The family would also like to thank the staff at St. Mary's Care Center for their kindness to Ellen in her final years.

Godspeed Ellen. May you be a half hour in heaven before the devil knows you're dead.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road
Madison, WI 53705
608-238-3434