Michael Edward Roache

With profound sadness, the family of Mike Roache announce he passed away on January 26 at the age of 87. We take great solace in knowing he was surrounded by family throughout his last days, a testament to the person he was – kind, thoughtful, humorous, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend to many.

He is survived by his wife Patricia, who he loved with all his heart. They were best friends, married for 62 years. He was so proud of his children: Daniel (Shauna), Tony (Jacqueline), and Trina (Shawn); his eight grandchildren: Zach, Danica, Mark, Blake, Tommy, Savannah, Jesse, and Greyson; and seven great-grandchildren: Finn, Liam, Rowan, Barrett, Sawyer, Brooklyn, and Xavier. Mike had numerous cousins, nieces and nephews who live here, across Canada and around the world, some of whom he found later in life and was so happy to meet. Many of the important people in dad’s life journeyed on before him and we know he is with our ancestors now. Mike is predeceased by his brothers: Bernard “Bun,” Thomas, and Henry; and his parents: Katie Francis and Henry Roache. It was dad’s wish to acknowledge the brothers he never knew, who were deceased as infants before he was born – John, Gerald and Henry.

Dad was a proud member of the Glooscap First Nation but grew up in North End Halifax. Life wasn’t easy by any means, but dad always spoke with reverence (and a bit of humour) about his mother Katie and Aunt Bessie – two Mi’kmaw sisters originally from Middleton. He had amazing stories. He knew Viola Desmond and walked her dog. He remembers people from East Preston coming around at Christmas selling wreaths from ox-drawn carts. He loved the movies and in adulthood, even acted a bit himself. He wrote a screenplay about how the Halifax explosion impacted the Mi’kmaq at Turtle Grove. Mike was witty, smart, and artistic. He was always sketching political cartoons and even had a few published. He was a veteran, with 35 years of service with DND, including four years in the army. He served in the Sinai Desert as part of the UN Emergency Peace Keeping Force, stationed in Gaza in 1958. Mike was an avid news reader, interested in the world and the people around him. Most of all, dad focused on his family. We miss you and love you, Dad.

A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, February 5 in JA Snow Funeral Home at 339 Lacewood Drive.

The funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at St. Agnes Church. Reception to follow.

Donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.