Peggy Joyce Rocheleau

Funeral Mass and Rosary were held June 26 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.

She was born in Harlan, Kentucky, in 1936, and years later moved to Detroit, where she married, and raised her children before bringing her family to Phoenix in 1972.

She married Charlton Rocheleau in September 1992 and followed up with a church wedding in April 1993. Her husband and her two siblings preceded her in death.

Peggy had myriad jobs including homemaker, bartender, phone operator, cashier and then retired after working in the Circle K warehouse.

She was a kind and gentle Christian who raised four children, two of whom preceded her in death: Lola VanDenberg and Gerard Grzasko, both of Michigan. Her passion was singing - in church as a child with piano accompaniment of her cousin Sue, in a church choir in later years, Christmas carolling - pretty much whenever the mood struck her.

She cherished the company of friends and family (especially the youngsters and babies) and loved making holiday treats and meals for them. She also regularly invited her kids’ displaced friends over for holiday festivities.

Peggy also enjoyed gardening, crocheting and travel. She had a huge, loving heart, a warm smile and lots of hugs to share. She already is greatly missed.

Peggy is survived by two daughters, Anna VanDenberg of Michigan and Rose-Mary Grzasko of Phoenix; five grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins, including Sue Horn of Tennessee, whom she considered another sister.

She is interred with her husband at VA National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Joan of Arc, Hillside Baptist Church, The Salvation Army or the VA National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.