Margaret Frances Woods Roche, age 92 years, of Delaware Township, NJ, died peacefully at home on Friday, October 8, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in New York City, NY, October 14, 1928, daughter of the late Denis J. and Elizabeth Lonergan Woods, she had formerly resided in Oceanside, NY prior to moving to Delaware  Township, NJ many years ago.

A 1944 graduate of Cathedral High School in New York City, Margaret graduated at the young age of 16 years old. It was growing up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan where Margaret would meet a neighbor lad, Joseph Roche. The two would become friends and that friendship blossomed into marriage on April 28, 1951 when they wed at St. Joseph Church in the Yorkville, section of Manhattan, NY.

Their union brought them seven children-Joseph, Denis, Margaret, Timothy, Kevin, Richard, and Christopher-all of whom Margaret instilled a deep sense of family and faith. Raising her family on Weidner Avenue in Oceanside, she was a strong and disciplined mother, who ensured her children knew the value of education as well as the value of hard work. She was a de facto taxi driver, ensuring her children got where they needed to be to become contributing members of society. Having watched her own mother become widowed at the age of 39, Margaret witnessed her mothers strength and emulated that in all that she did.

She and Joe loved their children dearly and were very proud of their many accomplishments. Margaret’s pride became even more fierce with the next generation, and she was known to tell whoever would listen all about each and every grandchild. In their successes, she saw her many years of devoted love and care come to fruition.

She and Joe enjoyed their retirement years in Delaware Township, in a home they shared with their only daughter, until Joe’s passing in 2005 after fifty-four years of marriage. In true Margaret fashion, she held her head high and guided her family through this sad time reminding everyone that faith and family would get them through anything.

Her faith grounded her life, and in faith she found hope at every turn. She was a longtime communicant of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oceanside, NY, where she was a member of the Rosary Altar Society and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knight of Columbus. When she moved to New Jersey, she became a devoted communicant of St. Magdalen Church where she assisted with counting the collections, attended mass daily, and was very involved with the food pantry and Hope House.

Margaret was a champion bowler. Still rolling 200 games well into her eighties. For many years she was the Treasurer of the Spicy Seniors Bowling League. She also was quite involved with the Delaware Township Seniors and was a devoted fan of both Villanova and the New York Yankees.

Though saddened by her passing, her family takes heart that this first generation American woman, whose roots stretch back to Tipperary County, Ireland, could find her success in the American Dream and pass a legacy of faith, hope and love onto the generations that follow.  Her large family will certainly see her again, one day, when all are called home to the place promised in John 14, the mansion with many rooms for those who have faith.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Joan Woods.

Surviving are her children Joseph P. Roche and his wife, Mary Beth, Denis J. Roche and his longtime partner, Evelyn Frailey, Margaret M Riexinger and her husband, Douglas, Timothy G. Roche and his  wife, Cheryl, Kevin M. Rocheand his wife, Lisa, Richard T. Roche, and Christopher J. Roche and his longtime partner, Christy Torres; her grandchildren, Joseph M. Roche and his wife, Sarah, Stefanie M. Roche, Michael P. Roche and his wife, Jaclyn, Matthew D. Riexinger his wife, Melissa, Kevin J. Riexinger and his wife, Jessika, Andrew R. Riexinger and his wife, Megan, Caitlin Giacino and her husband, Michael, Timothy J. Roche and his fiancé, Grace Ann, Shannon Roche, Ryan Roche, Nora Roche, Hannah Roche, Christine Roche, Brittany Roche, Gregory Roche, and Sean Roche; her great grandchildren Emily Neville, Tyler Riexinger, Zachary Riexinger, Ava Roche, Madelyn Roche, and another little one due in November 2021; her brother and sister-in-law Denis James Woods and Eileen Dooley; many extended family members; and many dear friends.

Family and friends are invited to a gathering on Sunday, November 7, 2021 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Msgr. John Gordon will take place on Monday, November 8, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ. Everyone is kindly asked to arrive at the church beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Monday.

Following mass, Margaret will be entombed with her dear husband, Joseph, at St. Magdalen Mausoleum, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ.

You are encouraged to visit Margaret’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”