James "Jim" Roy

James Michael “Jim” Roy, born June 25th, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on April 8th, 2022 in hospice care at Beaumont, succumbing to the affects of a stroke. During his short illness, his family was able to visit him, say their goodbyes and pray for a peaceful transition.

Born to Mary Theresa (Sullivan) Roy and James Roy. His brother Earl “Bud” was born 1 year and 1 day later and they were joined at the hip ever since. Their little sister, Mary “Rita” rounded out the Roy trio. Jim went to St. Agnes & St. Luke’s grade schools, and St. Theresa High School. He was a paperboy on the west side of Detroit for 5 years, and spent summers in Sheenboro, Quebec working on family farms and enjoying the Ottawa River. The three siblings could be found playing music at family functions and parties with Jim on the guitar, Bud on the fiddle, and Rita on the piano.

He studied Engineering at University of Detroit Mercy and later returned to U of D for his teaching certificate. After college, he joined the Army in 1957 and later taught high school physics and math in Detroit. Jim was a life-long learner, getting grants and earning certificates to continue studying at Penn State, and even went to Bergamo, Italy to study the Montessori Method under Maria Montessori’s son, Mario. While in Bergamo, Jim had the chance to meet Pope John XXIII and sent home a postcard to his parents with his signature.

Jim loved the role of uncle to his nieces and nephews, Matt, Rob and Jamie Roy, and Donnelle, Rochelle, Christie and Jeannine LaDouceur and was always good to organize a softball game or square dancing lessons and was known as the fun uncle.

He met the love of his life, Sheila O’Herlihy in 1976. They Married on June 25th, 1977 and raised their three children, Mary, James, and Julie in Detroit. Jim opened his own Montessori school in Troy, Michigan in 1984 and worked there until his retirement in 2012 at the age of 78, having taught hundreds if not thousands of children over the course of his career. He truly lived the motto of “love what you do and you never have to work a day in your life”.

Jim was a parishioner at St. Suzanne Catholic Church since 1979. He played on the St. Suzanne’s softball team, and was part of the Men’s Club and could be found at the Friday Fish Fry, or making pancakes after Church for the pancake breakfast, and he always enjoyed the coffee and donuts or out to breakfast with his many friends after church.

He played hockey for most of his life on frozen ponds and rinks, and he even played in the Senior Olympics at Lake Placid. He was often on the same hockey team as his brother Bud, and they played hockey together for at least 79 years until he hung up his skates at the ripe old age of 86. He was a member of the Ancient order of Hibernians (AOH) and the Gaelic League and loved Ceili dancing. St. Patrick’s Day in Detroit was a high holiday for Jim, Bud and Rita and they could be found at the Gaelic League, the AOH, The Tipp, or the Old Shillelagh.

He is survived by his wife, Sheila (O’Herlihy) Roy, his children Mary (Matt) Baehr, James (Heather) Roy, Julie (Justin) Bye, his sister Rita (Ron) LaDouceur, and many nieces and nephews. He delighted in his grandchildren, Madeline, Celia, Charlie, Kennedy and Lincoln James.

There will be a viewing on Monday, April 11th from 2-8 at Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 30200 5 mile Rd, Livonia, MI, 48154 and a funeral mass at St. Suzanne Our Lady Gate of Heaven Catholic Church, 19321 W. Chicago, Detroit, MI 48228, on Tuesday, April 12th at 11:00 AM with a short viewing starting at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Right to Life Michigan or Methodist Children's Home Society. (See links below)