Ann M. Rocha

Ann M. (Kilfoyle) Rocha, 88, a longtime resident of Melrose, peacefully passed away at home on Saturday, April 13, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Ann was born in Cambridge on April 12, 1936.  She was the youngest of John and Katherine (McNeill) Kilfoyle’s twelve children.  Ann graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1954. She married Manuel J. Rocha on January 30, 1960, at St. Mary’s Church and the couple made their home in Revere. In 1970, at Ann’s request, they moved their young family to Melrose and happily raised five children.

Ann quickly established herself in Melrose where she made many new friends and became a dedicated parishioner at Incarnation Church. A woman of profound faith, she took comfort in her connection to her church and developed lasting bonds of friendship with fellow parishioners.

Ann was a loyal wife to her husband and a strong, supportive mother to her children. She took great pride in keeping a beautiful, immaculate home. She delighted in planting flowers in her front yard on Porter Street and welcomed friends and family to her home with a warm smile. Ann was always at the ready to set another place setting at her large kitchen table for a hungry visitor. She was a natural born hostess who loved to entertain.

Ann was a woman with a notable sense of style. She often enjoyed venturing out on shopping trips with her daughters and friends. In the summer months, she looked forward to spending time on the beaches of Cape Cod with her beloved husband and children. Always a special place for Ann, it was on the sunny shores of the Cape where she and Manny first connected. She was blessed with a strong will and a sharp mind that were complimented by her loving and caring nature. She relied on her strengths when faced with adversity and always found a way to work through life’s challenges with determination.

Ann was the beloved wife of Manuel J. Rocha with whom she shared sixty four years of marriage. Devoted mother of Pamela (Todd) Ledbury of Saugus, Randal (Nancy) Rocha of Wickford, RI, Polly (Michael) O’Brien of Scituate, Ronald (Christine) Rocha of Melrose, and the late Raymond J. Rocha. Loving grandmother of Meridith Rocha, Caroline Rocha, Jake O’Brien, Kayla O’Brien, Matthew Rocha, Ray O’Brien, Paige Rocha, Chase Ledbury and Lulu O’Brien. Dear sister of the late Helen (Fred) Baase, Katherine (Arthur) Kramer, Ruth (Robert) Letorney, Joan (Frederick) Andella, John Joseph (Doris) Kilfoyle, Gerald (Eleanor) Kilfoyle, Paul (Margorie) Kilfoyle, Arthur (Isabelle) Kilfoyle, Ralph (Mary) Kilfoyle, and Donald (Mary) Kilfoyle.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to honor Ann’s life during Visiting Hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Wednesday, April 17 from 4-7pm, and for her Funeral Mass at the Church of the Incarnation, 429 Upham St., Melrose on Thursday, April 18 at 10am.