JoEllen Roach

JoEllen Roach, of Oakwood Hills, passed away Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at the age of 81.

Born December 29, 1944, the daughter of the late John and Carmelita (Scimeca) Gale, she was raised in Chicago by her mother and stepfather, Chester Tokarczyk.

JoEllen found great joy in caring for others, especially through her cooking. Her kitchen was a place of warmth and welcome, where she lovingly prepared homemade lasagna and cannoli for family and friends. She delighted in hosting gatherings, happiest when surrounded by the people she loved, always striving to make others feel cherished and at ease.

She had an adventurous spirit and a love of travel, and was especially grateful for the opportunities she had to travel beyond the United States. Many of those treasured journeys were accompanied by her daughter, Wendy, who took her to the places she dreamed of seeing and shared in the excitement of each new experience. Hawaii held a special place in JoEllen’s heart.

JoEllen also enjoyed arts and crafts, expressing her creativity in ways that brought beauty and happiness to those around her. Resilient and strong since the day she was born prematurely, she faced life’s challenges with courage and determination. Through it all, she remained deeply loving and remarkably joyful, a truly happy person whose warmth and light touched everyone she met.

JoEllen is survived by her children, Mark (Noelle) Roach and Wendy Roach; her grandchildren, Michael Roach, Brian (Emily) Roach; her great-grandchildren, Darby and Maison Roach; her sisters, Natalie Grzybek and Pamela Russell; her nieces and nephews; and the many people in her life who lovingly referred to her as “mom.”

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jimmy Ray Roach.

A celebration of JoEllen’s life will be planned for a later date.