NORTH MONMOUTH- Karen E. DeRoche passed away peacefully on May 27, 2024 at Maine General Hospital in Augusta. She was a long-time resident of North Monmouth, ME. Born in Plainfield, NJ on December 28, 1944, she was the daughter of Jacob R. and Mary A. Nathan. She grew up in Bangor, Farmington, Rumford, and Silver Spring, MD. She was a 1963 graduate of Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, MD. Karen married her high school sweetheart, Jim DeRoche, on January 22, 1966. After several years as a homemaker, she worked at Heritage Home , Winthrop, as a CNA and at Progressive Distributors, Winthrop, at the switchboard. In her leisure time, Karen enjoyed reading, playing Solitaire, outings with her best friend, Katie, and spending time with family. She especially loved all of her cats. She is survived by her daughter, Kristy Howard and husband Maurice; son, James DeRoche and wife Alicia; grandchildren Alex, Nathaniel, Ben and wife Abby, Hannah, and Teagan; great grandson, Azariah; brother Alan Nathan and wife Jane; Joel Nathan and fiancee Patricia; cousin Kathie Schiff; several neices and nephews; and her best friend, Katie Harrington. She is predeceased by her husband, Jim; her parents, Jacob and Mary Nathan; many cousins, aunts, and uncles. Karen's family thanks the attentive and caring staff at Maine General Hospital, Augusta, at Thayer Emergency Department, Waterville, and at DCI, Fairfield for their loving care of Karen in her last weeks. In honoring Karen's wishes, there will be no service. Her ashes will be spread over a a special place at the ocean, together with her husband's ashes. Arrangements are in the of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop, where Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website www.khrfuneralhomes.com