It is with great sadness the family of Donald Michael Roach, age 52, of 120 Rainy Lake Blvd., Couchiching First Nation, Ontario, announce his passing on Monday, January 9, 2012 at LaVerendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, Ontario,after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Donald was born November 24,1959 in Fort Frances, Ontario to the late Chuck and Kathleen Roach. Donald grew up in the area and was well known for his great sense of humour and athletic ability. Donald had a very prolific athletic career, excelling at hockey. He played for the Fort Frances High School Muskies and followed with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, playing with teammates Teddy Nolan, Wayne Gretzky and Craig Hartsburg. Following his hockey career, Donald, being a young man, headed west. He became a " Rig Pig ", working in the oil fields of Alberta for several years. He then went to Thunder Bay, On., working at Denjon Construction and Towland Hewlitson Construction, until work related injuries forced him into early retirement. He never gave up his lifelong passion of "tinkering "with anything mechanical. If it could be fixed, Donald could fix it. Donald’s great sense of humour endeared him to any and all that he met. Perhaps his greatest personal trait was his sense of loyalty to family, friends and teammates alike. If Donald "had your back ", you knew he had your back and you could bank on it.
He was predeceased by three brothers, David, Danny and Randy Roach. Donald is survived by his special friend, Jackie Jourdain-Adams and ”the boys”, Cameron, Trevor and Sheldon; her son Richard White (Dina) and their daughters; Kayla, Ava, Isabelle and; Jordan White with her family Christopher and son Ethan ( “Little Joe” to Donald.) ;and her daughter Toni Lynn White.
Donald also leaves behind one daughter, Elizabeth Roach of St. Albert, Alberta ; one brother, William (Alfredie) Roach of Quesnel, B.C. their two sons Alexander and Jesse; two sisters Joanne Roach of Fort Frances and her son Justin Grouette of B.C.; and Donald’s twin sister; Sandra Roach of Duncan B.C. Donald will be forever in the hearts of his aunties; Elaine Lesage and Shirley Roach of Garden River First Nation in Sault Ste. Marie ON.; Judy (Rob) Klyne, and Donna (John) Wood all of Fort Frances, ON.; and his uncle; Pat Roach Sr. of Fort Frances ON. Too numerous to mention, are the many cousins and their families from the Roach and Klyne last names of the Fort Frances and Sault Ste. Marie areas.
A celebration of Donald's life will be held on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Multi-Use Facility at Couchiching First Nation, Ontario, with Father Biju Mathew and Gilbert Smith officiating. Cremation will take place at Rainy River Cremation Services in International Falls, Minnesota. Interment will take place in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery at Couchiching First Nation, Ontario at a later date. Honourary pallbearers will be all of Donald’s friends and family.
Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer
Society, in care of Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, On., P9A 3M8.
On line condolences may be in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
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