Katherine (Kay) M. LaRocca

Kay was born on December 19, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois to Edward and Stella Matushek.  Kay graduated from Pullman Tech High School and went on to work for Illinois Bell Telephone Company.  She was also active with the Girl Scouts and was the leader of her own troop.

In 1953, Kay vacationed in Florida to visit a friend and was introduced to Anthony (Bob) LaRocca, an Eastern Airline Mechanic, and they were married very shortly thereafter and lived in Miami, Florida, where they attended Holy Cross Lutheran Church.  They were blessed with two children, and Kay continued to be active with the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, leading her own den/troop.  Sadly, Bob passed away in 1967.  Finding herself a single mother, Kay went back to work and finished her work career at the Peoples Credit Union in North Miami, Florida.

In 1996, Kay relocated to Port Orange, Florida to be near her daughter, and was joined by her son in 2000.  Still wanting to be active, Kay began working at the local Wendy’s where she enjoyed meeting and talking with the patrons.  Kay attended church with her daughter, when able, at Westminster By-the-Sea Presbyterian Church.

Kay lived a long life and truly enjoyed talking with everyone she met.  She enjoyed gardening and looking at the pretty flowers and watching the butterflies, birds and squirrels, and of course she loved working on her “Word Find” puzzles.  Kay spent the last five months of her life residing at Coquina Cottage Assisted Living Facility in South Daytona, where she was loved and will truly be missed (especially her dry sense of humor).

Kay is survived by her younger brother, Edward Matushek (Phyllis), Tinley Park, Illinois, her son, David LaRocca, Port Orange, Florida, and her daughter, Barbara LaRocca-Potter (Phillip), Port Orange, Florida. Kay was also blessed with two grandchildren, Anthony (Nick) LaRocca (Bridget), Dayton, Nevada, and Lisa Domen (Joel), Dayton, Nevada, and three great grandchildren, Aurora, Amelya, and Gwen.

“God saw you getting tired, a cure was not to be.  So He put his arms around you and whispered, come with Me.  With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you fade away.  Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.  A golden heart stopped beating, your tender hands at rest.  God took you home to prove to us He only takes the best.”  We love you, Mom, a/k/a “Best Mom in the Whole World.”  You will always be in our hearts.

Memorial donations may be made to Halifax Health Hospice of Volusia, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129.