Frances Roach

Frances (“Fran”) Roach, age 93, died after a brief illness on February 5, 2025, surrounded by her loving children.  She went “home” to be with her life’s great love and partner, Frank Roach, MD, from whom she had been widowed nearly 39 years.  

A fifty-year resident of Oak Park, she and her beloved husband, Frank, raised all seven children in Oak Park, all of whom attended local schools, including OPRFHS.  She 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.  After Oak Park, Fran lived in Riverside for ten years and her final five years in The Birches Assisted Living in Clarendon Hills, her beloved final home.

Born August 19, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, 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.  Fran graduated from St. Gertrude’s grade school and Immaculata High School in Chicago, where she was an accomplished student.  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 full academic scholarship to the University of Chicago, during which time she was introduced to Francis L. Roach, MD of Chicago, IL.  They married in 1957 and were blessed with a rich and loving marriage, until cut short by Frank’s cancer and death in 1986.  She mourned his loss the rest of her life, but kept busy “organizing” —only instead of labor unions, she remarked that she spent her remaining years organizing seven children.  She and Frank were very active in the Oak Park community, nurturing close, enduring and life-long friendships there.   In 1961, Fran and Frank were among the founders of the Alcuin Montessori School, still operating today.  Her legendary beef stews were coveted by the good souls of PADS, for whom she cooked for years. She was a long-time and devoted member of St. Edmund’s Parish; an early supporter of the Oak Park Housing Authority; and an early Board Member of the Oak Park Farmer’s Market.  Both she and Frank dearly loved the natural beauty and the remarkable people on Washington Island, Wisconsin and built a second home there in 1973, which is still maintained and beloved by all her children and their children.   In addition to her own seven children and their partners, Fran leaves behind 12 grandchildren, who called her “Baba,” and with whom she had exceedingly close and loving relationships: 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.  Fran’s wit and wisdom, her love for the outdoors and travel, and her warm-heart and generous spirit graced her family and friends. She bequeathed to them a profound legacy of love and service.  She will be greatly missed.

Funeral services arranged by Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL.

Services are scheduled for Saturday, February 22 at St. Edmund’s Church, 188 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park, 9:30 Visitation and 10:30 Funeral Mass.

She will be buried on Washington Island with her beloved husband, Frank.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Washington Island WICHP (Washington Island Community Health program), P.O. Box 227, Washington Island, WI 54246 or the Oak Park Conservatory Botanical Garden, 615 Garfield Street, Oak Park, IL 60304, would be most gratefully accepted.

Information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com

For those of you that would like to express your condolences to the family, please click on the link above and you can leave the family a message. If you wish to send a sympathy card, please feel free to send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513 c/o Frances Roach Family.  We will gladly forward it on to the family.