Roxanne Nathe

Roxanne “Rocky” Nathe, 73, of Cape Carteret, North Carolina, passed away on May 29, 2026, at ECU Health Medical Center after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family.

Roxanne was born in Lackawanna, New York. She was one of seven children and grew up in a large family where she learned early how to care for others, work hard, and stand on her own two feet. She was clever, stubborn, funny, creative, and determined — qualities that stayed with her throughout her life.

She also had a mischievous streak that became part of family legend. One favorite story tells of a young Roxanne tossing the family’s dirty pots and pans out the window of their two-story home and into the creek below to avoid washing them. They were not found until the snow melted the following spring. It was classic Roxanne: resourceful, rebellious, and entirely her own person.

Roxanne spent much of her life in Dunkirk, New York, where she raised her two sons, Christopher (“Butch”) and Jason. She was an involved and devoted mother, active in the PTA and always there to cheer her boys on at their sporting events. Her home on Deer Street was a gathering place for family, especially during holidays and celebrations. She took pride in making her home warm, welcoming, and full of life.

Roxanne knew how to make people feel at home. There was always coffee, always something to eat, and always a place to sit. She was a wonderful cook, known for her Gołąbki (stuffed cabbage), Texas sheet cake, and mashed potatoes no one else could quite match. She had a gift for making ordinary things feel special, whether she was cooking, decorating, gardening, making stained glass, or adding the finishing touch that made something look beautiful.

She brought that same warmth and personality everywhere she went. Whether working at a local donut shop, waitressing at The Vineyard in Dunkirk, or later building her career in North Carolina, Roxanne was friendly, quick-witted, hardworking, and memorable. She never met a stranger and had a way of making people laugh, even when life was hard.

In the late 1990s, Roxanne relocated to North Carolina to be closer to her sisters and begin a new chapter. Through determination and hard work, she built a career and served for many years as Assistant Director of the Fonville Morisey Real Estate School. She was proud of the life she created, the independence she earned, and the home she made for herself.

Her grandchildren were one of the great joys of her life. Roxanne treasured spring break trips to the beach, riding waves on boogie boards, collecting seashells, and making memories with Keraghen, Karleigh, and Caleb. She loved being their grandmother and was proud of each of them.

In 2016, Roxanne was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer and underwent treatment at Duke. Her family is deeply grateful to the doctors, nurses, and care team whose skill and compassion gave her more precious years with the people she loved. Roxanne faced treatment and recovery with courage, humor, and the determination to keep going, supported by her family, friends, and coworkers at Fonville Morisey.

After retiring, Roxanne made her home in Cape Carteret. Her later years were filled with family, friends, travel, cooking, laughter, and stories. She was especially close with her sisters Carolyn, Susan, and Patricia, and the time they shared was a great comfort and joy in her life.

Roxanne made the most of a life that was not always easy. She was kind, caring, patient, creative, spunky, thoughtful, and tough. She had a clever solution for nearly every problem, a quick joke when one was needed, and a habit of thinking about what others might need. Her family will remember her for her humor, her grit, her generosity, and the unmistakable presence she brought into every room.

Roxanne is survived by her sons, Christopher (“Butch”) Krzyzanowicz and wife Jill, and Jason Krzyzanowicz and wife Melissa; her siblings, Peter Piehler and wife Sharon, Carolyn Kaczka, Robert Abbey and wife Marilee, Susan Lougee, and Patricia Pawlak and husband Steve; her grandchildren, Keraghen, Karleigh, and Caleb; her great-grandchildren, Kallie Rae and Ashton Hazelton; her niece, Aimee Neary and husband Jason; her nephew, Corey Piehler and wife Kate; and numerous cousins, extended family members, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Lucille Skozelas; her brother, James Piehler; and her grandparents, Frances (“Pat”) and Stanley Seferyn.

A celebration of Roxanne’s life will be held in Western New York in Summer 2026.

In honor of Roxanne, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home & Crematory of Morehead City, NC.