Jane Kerry Roche

It is with great sadness that her family announces the passing of Jane K. Roche (nee Kerry) on June 24, 2026. She is survived by her brother, Larry Paul, her sister, Nancy Marlin, her Children: Michele, Theresa, Jennifer, Amy and Mathew and her Grandchildren: Andrew, David, Julia, Rachel and Skyler. She is predeceased by her husband David Roche, her parents Anne & Harold Paul and her sister Sharon Paul (nee).

Jane was known, early on, as “mosquito mama” because of her small stature, in later years she was called “Mimi” by most. She would joke that she used to have a name and it was Jane! Born in Ferndale, Michigan, Jane grew up with her parents, Anne & Harold Paul and her siblings: Nancy, Sharon and Larry and she always described her childhood as pretty idyllic.

She married David H. Roche, her high school sweetheart in 1963. David and Jane started their family in nearby Pleasant Ridge, which included two sets of twin girls and a singular baby boy. And yes, they were nervous that they would end up with six girls. Soon they moved to Bloomfield Hills and tragically David Roche passed away in 1979. Jane persisted and with the help of family and friends she continued to raise her children with love and grace. In the mid- eighties Jane and her family moved to Colorado where she continued to live for over forty years. She was an executive assistant extraordinaire, she could organize anything. Boulder, Colorado delivered five Grandchildren who adored her to the moon and back!

Many have said she is “one of a kind” and it is true. Jane was wildly talented, smart and creative. She could do it all: sewing, knitting, stained glass, blanket making, home & garden design, and unique crafts. Her creations (given as gifts over the years) have become heirlooms to countless families and have been passed down from generation to generation. Of this she was enormously proud. Her commitment to family saw the creation of life- long memories and traditions: like an annual pumpkin decorating party (involving no knives) or her Christmas tree decorating party which was how she got us all to decorate her tree for decades. Her gardening skills were exceptional and should be mentioned. She was an inspirational Science Fair Mentor and a fabulous teacher. She taught us all many lessons, and she did so with kindness, humor and grit. We are grateful. We shall all cherish her memory and miss her dearly.

See you later alligator… in a while crocodile…