Kathleen "Kathy" M. LaRochelle

Kathleen LaRochelle, 82, passed away peacefully on December 19th, 2025, surrounded by her family. While our hearts are broken by her passing, it is her enduring legacy of love and loyalty that brought us together in those final moments and will continue to strengthen and guide our family in the years ahead.

Kathy was a devoted nurse, teacher, friend, mother, and grandmother. Small but strong, fiercely loyal, and always impeccably dressed, she carried herself with poise and grace. She was simply a wonderful human being.

A lifelong learner, Kathy maintained her nursing credentials long after she stopped practicing, driven by her discipline and passion for continued growth. She frequently embraced new hobbies—knitting, gardening, and photography, to name a few—and in her “retirement” years (which were few, by her own choosing), she was often enrolled in classes at the community college. History was her favorite subject.

In her later years, Kathy found great joy in puzzles, Sudoku, and crosswords, which she approached with sincere intention to keep her mind sharp.

A true matriarch, Kathy had a quiet, magnetic way of bringing family and friends together. She was predeceased by her father, Gerald, and mother, Natalie. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 61 years, Tom—her childhood sweetheart and partner of nearly 70 years—as well as her three sons: Tom and his wife Paula, David and daughter-in-law Marcie, and Chris and his wife Donna. She was a proud and devoted grandmother to seven cherished grandchildren: Maddie, Andie and boyfriend Alex, Jake, Rae and fiance Quinn, Jack and girlfriend Sarah, Tatum, and London. She will also be remembered by her brother Michael Finnegan and family and her dear relatives Linda and Kerry Martens. She leaves behind a circle of very close friends.

Kathy also had an affinity for animals and loved many dogs throughout the years. Most recently, she shared a special bond with Lady Laro, her first “small” dog, a Tibetan Terrier who surely misses her mom.

Initial services will be held privately with family. A celebration of her life will be planned in the new year for friends and loved ones to attend.

In Kathy’s memory, donations can be made to the MSPCA-Angell Cape Cod at https://www.justgiving.com/page/kathy-larochelle or by visiting their website.