Obituary of Andrea Y. Roche

Andrea Y. Roche, age 66, of Summerfield, Fl passed away Friday, May 15, 2020 in her home after a valiant fight against leukemia.  She was the wife, companion, business partner and lover of Robert Roche for 45 years.

Andrea was born in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia and raised in Cinnaminson, NJ where she graduated from Cinnaminson High School.  She is a graduate of Peirce College, Philadelphia where she received her AS degree.  She went back to college and graduated from Northampton Area Community College receiving two AS degrees, General Education and Mortuary Science.  She received her Pennsylvania Funeral Director’s License in 1987 and worked with her husband at their Tamaqua, PA funeral home. Andrea was active in the Tamaqua community and was Past President of the Tamaqua Business and Professional Women’s Club, member of the St. Jerome’s Catholic Women's Education Association, Tamaqua Area Lionettes and the Tamaqua Area 2004 Partnership focusing on the Tamaqua Downtown projects. She could be found at her children’s Bitty League Baseball games, Girls Softball games, CYO Basket Ball games, dance school practices, Boy Scout events, St. Jerome’s School events, Marion Catholic football, basketball and baseball games as well as Tamaqua HS Football and Track.  In January 2001 Andrea and Bob moved to Inverness, Florida where they continued to work in the funeral profession.  She worked at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Ocala; Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs and Turner Funeral Homes, Spring Hill, FL.  Due to health issues she retired in 2013.  Andrea and Bob moved to Del Webb Spruce Creek Golf and Country Club in Summerfield, FL in June 2018. Andrea loved her children with the ferocity of a mother Grizzly Bear.  She made their Halloween costumes, created special birthday cakes and dinners. She was the homework monitor making sure her children were prepared for class the next day. In her professional life as a Funeral Director she was an excellent and compassionate listener. She made families feel comfortable and assured she would take care of them and their loved ones. Often, families she served would stop in weeks later just to chat. 

Andrea will be deeply missed by her husband Bob and son, Rob and his wife Melissa of Chaska, MN and daughter, Noel Marie and her companion, Jared Egge of Chesapeake, VA.  She cherished her grandsons, Patrick Jordan (PJ) and Cameron Kerr of Chaska, MN and her puppy, Scrapple. She was preceded in death by her youngest son, Patrick Michael who passed on April 13, 2008. She is also survived by her sister, Elaine and her, husband Ron Geni of Tampa, FL and their sons, Michael Geni of OK and Brian Geni and his wife, Linda of North Aurora, IL.  She is the God Mother to Elliott Eames and Eliza Eames of Honeybrook, PA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 11:00 AM at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Belleview, FL. Arrangements entrusted to the Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 1511 Buenos Aires Blvd., The Villages, FL 32159.  A Graveside Service will be held at the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.  Remote attendance available at http://client.tribucast.com/tcid/851822738

Condolences may be left at Hiers-Baxley.com.

Donations in Andrea’s memory may be sent to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Association or The Social Services at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Belleview, FL.