E. BARBARA ROCHE, Matriarch, Volunteer
Concord, N.H. Elizabeth Barbara Roche, 94, died Monday at Concord Hospital with the sound of her daughters’ voices in her ears.
Born on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 29, 1916 in Brighton, Ma. To Philip and Theresa (Vogel) Brooks, Barbara grew up in Watertown and graduated from Watertown High School, Simmons College and the University of Chicago, where she received her MA in Social Work in 1941. Shortly thereafter, she married John F. Roche and settled in West Roxbury, Mass for the next twenty years.
Employed for several years as a Medical Social Worker in Boston, New York and Chicago, she found her true calling as wife, matriarch and volunteer. In the summer of 1940, she was profoundly influenced by Mrs. Mary Simkovitch, Director of Greenwich House in NY, whose quotes guided her for the rest of her life: “Start where you are” and “Always say yes.”
With five daughters and a son, she started by learning about scouting at St.Theresa’s parish. She rose from distinguished troop leader to Chairman of the Boston Girl Scouts and received the St. Anne Medal of Honor in 1958. She said “yes” to teaching CCD, the PTA Board, the League of Women Voters, and The Audubon Society. In addition, she and John opened their home to Cuban refugees and visiting students from Africa.
When the family moved from West Roxbury to So Newbury N.H. in 1962, she joined the Newbury Conservation Commission, the New London Hospital Auxiliary, the Lake Sunapee Protection Association, the New London Garden Club, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and the League of Women Voters.
In 1986, Barbara was widowed when John died after a short retirement in Bradenton Beach, Florida. She returned to New Hampshire and made a new home for herself in the cottage section of Havenwood. Here she became an Elementary School writing coach, for which she received the “Champion for Children” award. In addition, she was an ESL tutor, a Health Service and Hospice volunteer and a member of the House and Grounds Committee. She made and donated over one hundred ABC quilts for a local project, and for 25 years made cloth diapers to support Mother Theresa’s Mission in Haiti.
Besides her commitment to volunteering, Barbara had many passions and talents which she delighted in sharing with family and friends. Her imagination and boundless energy transformed an abandoned 50 acre property into the magical “Rocky Brooks Farm,” where she hosted countless gatherings over a thirty year period. Most notorious of these were the weeklong “cousins camps,’ which she organized for her many nieces and nephews.
In this beautiful setting with waterfalls, caves, meadows, woods and a barn, Barbara raised dogs, cats, ducks, horses, goats, rabbits, roosters and a pig named “Betsy Bacon.” She built stone walls, gardened and sewed to her heart’s content, knit, hooked and braided rugs and learned to spin wool. With Mt. Sunapee nearby, she took up skiing and enjoyed hiking, camping, swimming and sailing. For her daughter Judy’s wedding, she designed and made not only the wedding gown, but six attendants’ dresses as well, followed by another set for daughter Pat. Holidays were marked by traditions that took weeks to prepare; 20 varieties of Christmas cookies and irresistible homemade breads.
Books were her first and last companions in life. As a teenager, she worked her way around the library by starting with authors whose names began with “Z.” How else would she have discovered Anzia Yezierska’s “Bread Givers?” Reading developed her keen
interest in the world and inspired Barbara to travel to Russia, Ireland, Italy, the Holy Land, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Panama and the Cayman Islands. She also visited Alaska, California, Arizona and many other states.
As matriarch, she sponsored annual vacations for her grandchildren even after the Farm was sold. Large gatherings were held on Nantucket, Cape Cod, Lake Sunapee, Gloucester, Lake Winnipesauke and Silver Lake. Here the children competed to win “The Nana Award,” which encouraged them to shine in areas of art, athletics, academics and citizenship.
Surviving her are her daughters Pat Bicchieri and husband Bob of Leominster, Ma, Judy Davidson and husband Jack of Brattleboro, Vt, Diane Roche, R.S.C.J. of New Orleans, La, Marissa Theisen of Phoenix, Az, Sheila Ouellette and husband Chris of Beverly, Ma. Her son David predeceased her in 1982. In addition, she leaves her grandchildren Jim, Jennifer, Ryan, Erica, Victoria, Chris, Nicholas and Brian and her great grandchildren Mason and Lila. Her grandchildren Amy and Peter predeceased her in 1986 and 1991. She also leaves her brother Dick and many cherished nephews and nieces.
Funeral from the P.E. Murray-George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 2000 Centre St. West Roxbury, Saturday, May 21st at 10:30 am. Funeral Mass in St. Theresa’s Church, West Roxbury, at 11:30 am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Friday, May 20th from 4-8 pm. Interment Mt. Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury.