Edmund Patrick Roche Jr. of the Illinois Veterans Home, formally of Schiller Park, Illinois passed away on Thursday, January 28th 2016 in the home.

He was born April 27, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, the sixth child of Edmund P. Roche Sr. and Irene Holehan Roche.

Married Charlotte Wawrzynski in 1970. They were divorced the following year but remained friends throughout their lives. In 1980, he married Barbara Torres. That marriage ended after three years.

Ed grew up and lived in Chicago most of his life. He attended Kelvyn Park High School and graduated in 1952. The next year he enlisted in the army and was attached to a medical unit until his discharge in 1956. He then attended Wright Junior College. He took a job with Hedlin Dairy and continued his studies at Roosevelt University night school. After receiving a degree in Industrial Management he went to work for Warwick Electronics who made televisions for Sears. He was lured away by Zenith Radio and Television where he remained for eight years. He left management and went into sales for Stone Container. He ended his career working as an independent broker for printing materials.
Ed Roche was very active in his church and was a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 4456. He was also a lifelong fan of the Chicago White Sox. The Hall of Famer, Luke Appling was his boyhood hero.

He is survived by two brothers-in-law, Robert DuCharme and Charles Veit and thirteen nieces and nephews, William DeMont of Quincy, Laura Stehle of Tucson, AZ; Patricia DuCharme of Chicago, IL; Susan Ohlson of Kailua, HI; Kerry Schroeder of Austin, TX; Mathew Veit of Algonquin, IL; Steve Roche of Newbury Park, CA; Roberta Ressler of Sandwich, IL; Nancy DuCharme of Sandwich, IL; Tom Roche of Flower Mound, TX; Marlene Scheibl of Elmhurst, IL; Michelle Sury of Geneva, IL and Janet Kleinberg of Vista, CA.

Mr. Roche was preceded in death by both of his parents, two brothers, Charles H. Roche and Edmund Roche (who died at birth) and three sisters, Elaine M. Kalitzky, Irene E. DuCharme and Mary Jane Veit.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, February 5, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in All Faiths Chapel of the Illinois Veteran’s Home. Interment will be in Sunset Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be held on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at All Faiths Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Illinois Veteran’s Home Activities Fund. Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.