Rhea C. Roy

ATTLEBORO, MA- Rhea C. Roy, 87, formerly of Shrewsbury and North Andover, died peacefully on Monday, May 29th 2023 at Garden Place Healthcare in Attleboro where she had been a resident for the past 7 years.
She is survived by her four children, Michelle Roy Haley of Mansfield, Michael Roy and his wife Carol of Hendersonville, TN, Jeannine Roy LeBel and her husband David of North Andover and Paul Roy of Ayer; 8 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren, and her sister Therese Grogan of Spencer, MA. She was predeceased by her former husband, Ernest Joseph Roy in 2018, as well as her siblings, Joseph Arthur Lacombe of New Britain, CT, John Paul Lacombe of Worcester and her sister Colombe Lacombe of Shrewsbury.
Born in Worcester on May 30, 1935, Rhea was the daughter of Herve Lacombe and Marie Rose Colombe (Boileau) and lived in Shrewsbury for many years. She was a member of St. Ann's Church and was married there in 1955.
She graduated in 1954 from the former St. Ann's Academy in Marlboro. Mrs. Roy was employed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and worked in the medical records department at UMASS Medical Center in Worcester for many years as well as the Department of Unemployment Assistance. Earlier in life, she held other positions within her local community including Howard Johnson's and Orlando's Market.
Shortly after her retirement she moved to North Andover in 2003 to be closer to her youngest daughter Jeannine and was a resident there for 10 years. In 2014, she moved to Hendersonville, TN to live with her son Michael and his family. While residing with them she joined them in worshipping at the Broadmoor Church of Christ and was baptized there. In 2016, she returned to New England and became a resident at Garden Place Healthcare. During the last years of her life Michael made numerous trips to Attleboro to spend as much time as he could with his mom and together they worshipped at the Greater Providence Church of Christ in Lincoln, RI where she became a member.
In her younger years, Rhea was an excellent jitterbug dancer and did so whenever she could. She loved spending time with her family and her greatest joy of all was being with her grandchildren. She loved being a 'Meme' and she was immensely proud of all her grandchildren. Rhea had many lifelong friends and was happy to spend time with them. She loved gathering with her family to watch and cheer for all of the New England sports teams, especially the Patriots. She was very proud of her French-Canadian ancestry and was also very patriotic. She had much love for the American flag, collecting whimsical items and anything in red, white and blue. She truly enjoyed family vacations to Hampton Beach, NH and being near the ocean. An avid seafood lover, she never passed up the chance to enjoy steamed clams. She also loved to read non-fiction books, and in her free time volunteered at the Franklin School in North Andover.
Rhea's family would like to thank the staff at Garden Place Healthcare and Fidelis Hospice and all her caregivers for the attentive and compassionate care she received while she was a resident there.
Her memorial funeral service will be held on Friday, June 16th at 11AM in Jackman Funeral Home, 12 Spring Street, Whitinsville, MA. Calling hours at the funeral home will be held prior from 10-11 AM. Cremation burial in Notre Dame Cemetery, 162 Webster St., Worcester will follow. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Fidelis Hospice, 25 Railroad Square, Suite 501, Haverhill, MA 01832.
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