Cecilia May Roach, 86, of Shawnee, Kansas, died Sunday, July 11, 2010 at Sweet Life Rose Hill Nursing Home in Shawnee.

 She was born December 25, 1923 in Maryville, Missouri, the daughter of John and Carolena (Brunstermann) Roach.  She graduated from St. Benedict’s High School, Clyde, Missouri with the honor of Valedictorian.  She earned her BS degree in Home Economics at Mount Saint Scholastica College, Atchison, Kansas and her MA at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.

  Cecilia devoted her life to teaching school for 56 years; the first three years in rural, one room schools in Nodaway County, teaching all eight grades.  She taught Home Economics for one year in Atchison High School, Atchison, Kansas. 

 After obtaining her MA degree in Consumer Science, Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design, her academic career was nine years at Michigan State University in Lansing  and the final forty-three years as Professor Roach at Indiana University in Bloomington, where she was a dedicated teacher, mentor and undergraduate advisor.

 Cecilia was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Carl and Hubert Roach.

 She is survived by three brothers: Joseph (Evelyn) Roach, Denver, Colorado; Jerome “Jerry”, Roach, Wheatridge, Colorado and Paul (Linda) Roach, Shawnee, Kansas; three sisters: Rita Luke and Loretta Kissinger, Maryville and Berniece Dowell, Bethany, Missouri; a sister-in-law: Roberta Roach, Omaha, Nebraska and many nieces and nephews.

 There will be a Legion of Mary Rosary at 4pm on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at Price Funeral Home, Maryville.

 Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 am Thursday, July 15, 2010  at St Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church, Maryville with burial in St Mary’s Cemetery, Maryville, Missouri.