George Arthur LaRoche

His parents, Arthur W. and Helen (Despres) LaRoche welcomed their son into the world on February 28, 1932 in Gardner, MA. George was a 1951 graduate of Keene High School.

Raised on the family farm, George was a "farmer at heart" his whole life. He loved gardening and harvesting the bounty of vegetables. Throughout his life he was a valuable resource to family and friends on all topics farming and gardening.

George enlisted in the Air Force, serving from March of 1952 until his honorable discharge as an Airman First Class, in March of 1956. While in the service he spent 18 months stationed in Germany.

In June of 1957 George married Annie Molesky, with whom he shared 38 years of marriage and together they raised three sons. Family was the most important thing in life to him.

He worked for 38 years as a machinist with MPB Corporation in Keene. Following his retirement, he worked with his son Michael in his business LaRoche Builders, a role he was very proud of.

George enjoyed all types of music, and was a self-taught musician, able to play multiple instruments including the accordion, keyboard and harmonica. He was very mechanical and could fix anything. In his earlier years, George was Cub Scout Master with Pack 16, and a member of the Marlborough (NH) Grange.

He will be greatly missed by many, especially his three sons, Edward A. LaRoche and his wife, Donna, of Jaffrey, NH, Thomas A. LaRoche and his wife, Elizabeth of Fitzwilliam, NH, Michael R. LaRoche and his wife, Janet, of Swanzey; his grandchildren, Emily Martineau and her husband, Jeremy, Eric LaRoche and his wife, Stormy, Bryan LaRoche and his fiancé Brooke; his three sisters, Gloria Hodgkins of Walpole, NH, Jeannette Gardner and her husband, Greg, of Keene, Rosemarie Flanders of Keene; and many extended family members. George was predeceased by his first wife, Annie (Molesky) LaRoche, his second wife, Patricia (Ward) LaRoche, a grandson, Stephen LaRoche, his sister Theresa Hodgkins and three brothers-in-law, Ralph Hodgkins, Reginald Hodgkins, and Ronald Flanders.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene, on Saturday November 4th at 10:30am. Burial with committal prayers and military honors will follow the funeral mass in St. Joseph Cemetery, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call on Friday November 3rd from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. LaRoche’s memory to the Meals on Wheels Program, c/o HCS, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.