Sujata Rose Roy

Sujata Rose Roy passed away May 8, 2022, in Woodbridge, VA, with her husband Robert Roy Jr. by her side. By 43, she had lived a fully engaged, happy life as a loving wife and mother of two daughters, Anaiah, 13, and Jasmine, 11, despite suffering from sickle cell disease.

Her gifts as a cultural bridge throughout her life reflect her background and her ability to accept every person for who they are. Born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, in 1978, she was raised in Yarmouth, ME, and graduated from Portland Public High School, where she shone as a leader in diversity issues.

Sujata studied psychology and social work at George Mason University 1998-2002.
Through membership in Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, she established a deep friendship with Michelle Richardson, who remains a close friend of the family. She also began her journey as a Christian, leading eventually to her baptism in St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church in Fairfax, VA, and a close relationship with her Godmother, Mary MacPherson, who supported Sujata and her children in their faith.

After college, Sujata proudly facilitated youth supplemental education programs through Huntington Learning Centers in Fairfax and focused on maintaining her health as she coped with sickle cell anemia.

She began a two-year-long courtship with George Mason classmate Robert, who proposed to her in 2007 in Portland, ME. The couple welcomed their first child, Anaiah Rose Roy, on Dec. 5, 2008. On Dec. 31, 2009, Sujata’s father, Christopher Nyhan, officiated their civil marriage in Portland, ME, with Catholic marriage conducted by Rev. Father James Barkett at the historic St. Mary’s Church in Fairfax Station, VA, on April 24, 2010, and Sujata’s friend Michelle Richardson as maid of honor.

On Sept. 9, 2010, the couple welcomed their second daughter, Jasmine Anne Roy,
whose middle name was given in honor of Sujata’s maternal grandmother, Anne Nolan.

Sujata devoted herself completely to the raising of Jasmine and Anaiah, who were both baptized in the Catholic faith. She advocated strongly for their early education and worked tirelessly to ensure opportunities for their growth spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. Between managing her children and her health, she spent her days reading the Bible and building friendships in her church and local community. She remained an active parishioner of St. Mary of Sorrows and also attended her local parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church in Lake Ridge, VA.

Sujata established close relationships with her medical community, including hematologists, other specialists and nurses, partnering with them in her care because she educated and advocated for herself to such a degree that they welcomed her input in critical decisions. Perhaps partly due to her own studious and brave efforts, she lived longer than most sickle cell patients.

She retained a love of Maine, where she had arrived in the coastal village of Yarmouth without English at the age of three, immediately winning the hearts of her new family and community. She, in herself, helped transform the community into a welcoming place for people from other cultures.

Sujata loved her Virginia home for her relationships with people of all backgrounds. She loved Maine for the ocean, nature, and her happy childhood. She adored her daughters, her husband Rob, her cats, and the life she was able to lead with strong family support. She left her irrepressible mark on close friends from college like Michelle, church friends, her medical community and others.

Sujata is survived by her husband Robert Roy Jr., her daughters Anaiah and Jasmine; her mother Patricia Nyhan; her father Christopher Nyhan and wife Carmela Palanda; her brother Alex Nyhan and wife Debee Yamamoto; brother Adam Nyhan and wife Kini Schoop; her father-in-law Robert Roy Sr. (wife Shirley Roy deceased); sister-in-law Robin (Roy) Harbs and husband Robert Harbs; brother John Roy; and brother Jason Roy and wife Laura Roy.

A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the historic St. Mary’s Church , VA-123 & Fairfax Station Rd., Fairfax Station, VA 22039.

Contributions may be made to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, and Catholic Charities Maine.