Joseph F. Roughan of Calverton died December 17, 2018, after a long illness, at home, with his family by his side. He was 85.
Mr. Roughan was born in Limerick, Ireland, on February 17, 1933, to John and Mary Cooney Roughan, the youngest of six siblings. He met Noreen Sheehan in 1950, and they were married April 22, 1957. Soon after, they emigrated to Brooklyn and began their family. They moved to Rockville Centre in 1965, retired to Southampton in 1996, and, finally, Calverton in 2007.
A very proud Irish-American immigrant, he came to the United States and created a beautiful life for his family, survivors said. He marched in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, helped create the first Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and was the proud grand marshal in 2003, and raised the Irish flag in Aruba with friends. His generous Irish spirit offered a place to stay and located jobs for young Irish men and women coming to the United States.
A devout Irish Catholic, he was committed to celebrating Mass with his wife and family at Holy Cross Parish in Brooklyn, St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, the Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Southampton, and St. John the Evangelist in Riverhead.
Mr. Roughan is survived by his wife of 61 years, Noreen; five children and their spouses, Marian Brady and Ed, Sean Roughan and Patricia, Patricia Christensen and Bill, Brian Roughan and Laurie, Joseph “Jody” Roughan and Erin; 10 grandchildren, Patrick Kerley and Sara, Siobhan Kerley, Erin Kerley, Nicole Maursky and Joe, Eamon Brady and Renata, Keri Christensen, William Christensen, Megan Roughan, Thomas Roughan, and Aidan Roughan; four great-grandchildren, Abigail Kerley, Aidan Maursky, Sophia Maursky and Olivia Maursky. He is also survived by his sister, Margaret (Tresha) Goodwin of Ireland, brother-in-law Gerry Phelan of Ireland, sister-in-law Marge Sheehan of Rockville Centre, dozens of cousins, nieces and nephews all across the United States and Ireland.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton. Burial was at Sacred Hearts Cemetery in Southampton.