Mary Joan Cecilia Demole (Née Roach)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joan Demole (nee Roach) of Rosemère on Friday, the 9th of April 2021. She died peacefully at home after a lengthy and courageous battle against cancer with family by her side.

Mary Joan Cecilia was born in Calumet Island, Quebec in 1930 to John Roach and Frances Giroux. She was one of 8 children. She graduated Chapeau Normal School with a degree in teaching at the age of sixteen. She first taught in Calumet Island, then once married she moved to Rosemère where she taught for almost 40 years at the Rosemère Catholic Elementary, mostly 3rd grade, and was known as a favourite teacher by all her students.

As a devoted mother, who loved and adored her children, she kept up with her children’s sports interests and became a lifetime and avid Montréal Expos and Montréal Canadiens fan. She loved all types of music, from the oldies, to country, to rock and roll and was also a voracious reader of books, especially biographies. She spent many enjoyable summers up north at Lac Chaud at their cottage making fond memories with her family. She was known as a kind and gentle woman and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her beloved husband Pierre “Pete” Demole and her children, Michael (Janet), Alan (Julie), David (Anna-Marie) and Jewel and her brother Cecil Roach. She was a proud and doting grandmother to Christopher, Laura (Dillon), Jarryd, and Chantale and great-grandmother to Zachary, James and Kieran. She is predeceased by her siblings Hazel, Loyola “Jack”, Helen, Muriel, Norberta “Norrie”, Cletus and her grandson Derek. She was a much-loved aunt and great aunt to many nieces and nephews.

There will be a private family only memorial at a date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the MUHC Cedars Cancer Centre.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal”

– Irish Proverb