Born in Detroit in February 28, 1933, Nancy Roach (Bird), believed in, and actively lived, the George Sand quote; "There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved." The devoted wife, mother and grandmother passed away at home in Crystal Lake, IL on Monday, February 26th from pancreatic cancer.

Nancy Bird graduated in 1951 as Salutatorian from Fordson High School in Dearborn, MI. An outstanding young pianist, Nancy declined an opportunity to study at Juilliard to attend the University of Michigan where she earned a degree in education. While studying at Michigan, she married fellow student John Roach in 1952. After graduation Nancy taught elementary school in Dearborn. Shortly thereafter she joined her husband who was stationed in Japan with the military. In Japan, Nancy gave birth to her first child, Nancy Anne.

Upon returning to the United States, the Roaches settled in Cleveland, OH where son John Philip and daughter Catherine were subsequently born. In 1967 the family moved to the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe Park where son Gregory was born.

A long-time member of the Grosse Pointe Artist Association, Nancy volunteered to design and write a unique history of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. She then returned to full-time work as a copywriter for Crowley's Department Store. Later she joined the promotions department of the Detroit News where she won several prestigious Caddy Awards from the Detroit Creative Directors Council. In the mid-'80s Nancy also served briefly as the public relations director of Children's Hospital of Michigan. She retired in 1985.

In 2000 she and her husband moved to Crystal Lake, IL where they were active in the lives of their grandchildren. The couple continued to travel extensively throughout the United States regularly visiting both coasts and the deep South.

Most important to her, Nancy loved being a grandmother, and her grandchildren returned that love.

She is survived by John, her husband of 54 years, her loving sister Phyllis and her husband Paul, her four children: Nancy Roach (Greg Crafts), John Roach (Sally Russell), Kate (Roach) Ballew (Cam Ballew), Greg Roach (Robin Meyer), and her grandchildren: Katie Roach Crafts, Andy Roach Crafts, Chas Ballew, Drake Ballew, Galen Ballew, Vaughn Ballew, Malcolm Roach, Ezekiel Roach, Henry Roach and Ethan Roach.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday March 10 in Crystal Lake, Illinois. For additional information, please contact Nancy Anne at 541-400-9664 or Nancy.Roach@FightColorectalCancer.org.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial donations to any of the following organizations:

o Planned Parenthood (www.PlannedParenthood.org)

o Save the Children (www.SaveTheChildren.org)

o National Public Radio (www.NPR.org)

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