Neida M Roche's Obituary
Neida Roche, age 88, left this world to join Jesus on December 29, 2020, just a few days shy of her 89th birthday. She leaves behind four children, eight grandchildren, over a dozen great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and two sisters.
Her calm, common sense, even handed approach to loving her family often belied her sometimes spontaneous and adventurous nature. Neida would move heaven and earth—a sentiment that she would heartily support—to defend and care for her children and their families. Although she often humbly expressed her life’s ambitions as simply wanting nothing more than to raise and support her family (including extended family), the truth is, she achieved so very much more than that. Her example of loving and supporting her family is a rich legacy that will live on and this serves as a template for all of us to aspire to.
She set a high bar as a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was always available to lend support when new grandkids came into the world, when they needed babysitting or loving attention for those precious children with special needs. All of the grandkids will enthusiastically testify how much they love their Abuelita! All the fur-babies would come to her, tails happily wagging, for loving and treats.
She loved her husband Daniel, her children, her sisters and brother, nieces and nephews, puppies, happy endings, staying in touch with family members, wanting to know details of her children’s lives, including their friends—even their friends pets, relationships, cooking, spaghetti, romantic moments, and funny stories. She treasured stories and acts of love and kindness. She hung onto every touching tribute (if sentiment could extend your life, she would have been immortal) that was brought to her attention. She safeguarded and kept any memorabilia, ribbons, bows or other items that would remind her of a special moment or act of charity or love. Her mind was sharp—her children may have thought they had gotten away with something, but Neida was—in her words and ours—a smart cookie. She would fiercely defend her family and would not accept anything less than kindness and respect from her children and others, while in her presence. She was quick to admonish unkind acts and just as quick to show her approval of acts of love, decency, and compassion. She was generous with her time, always willing to listen to tales from her family and be with the children as often as she could.
Neida did NOT like the term “in-LAW” and often gently admonished her four daughters-in-law (Kim, Kathi, Yvonne, and Mary Ellen) to not refer to her as such. She said so often “I had to wait until my sons got married to get my daughters.” Indeed, she loved us unconditionally, forgave and overlooked our shortcomings, always attributed the best intentions from us and remained a loving mother and best friend of her acquired daughters.
Neida would also pitch in to help in whatever projects her husband Daniel and her children, Daniel, Michael, Dennis, and Mark could conjure up. From DIY home additions, to full blown remodel jobs, Neida would always find a job that she could do, to help, even if that meant holding a hammer, fetching a tool, making lunch, or bringing water. Not travelers of their own accord, Neida and her husband Daniel ventured out to far flung places to visit their children including places like Europe, Niagara Falls, Colorado mountains, western Utah, and more. Often engaging in activities that she had never experienced before such as camping and riding in an old Landcruiser going though remote forests, challenging 4-wheel drive roads, and even getting into an igloo in late December Rocky Mountain National Park—a tall order for a native born Floridian.
These are some of the qualities that Neida has passed on to her children and her family…qualities and memories that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. How blessed we all were to call her Mom! She will be sorely missed.
“She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed.”
Proverbs 31:26-31
What’s your fondest memory of Neida?
What’s a lesson you learned from Neida?
Share a story where Neida's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Neida you’ll never forget.
How did Neida make you smile?