Margaret Tiernan LaRocco

Margaret Tiernan LaRocco, age 88, of Smithfield, Virginia passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, November 4, 2025. She was born December 31, 1936, in Kensington, United Kingdom, daughter of the late Margaret Tiernan.

As a child Margaret (Rita) enjoyed sports, especially soccer, always commenting on her left being her football knee. She lived a very modest life taking care of family and providing when she could by delivering groceries to shut-ins. Margaret served in the RAF and worked for Nabisco prior to coming to the United States as a Military Wife with 1st husband David Sr. After coming to the US, she studied hard to gain her U.S. Citizenship which she was very proud of. Later she met Frank and they married in 1975, she became a realtor for Abbitt Reality, putting all her commissions into the building of their home.

After retirement in 1995 she attended VA Tech to become an (EMG) Extension Master Gardener, Contributing almost 4,900 hours during her time in the program. Rita was one to volunteer for a variety of projects, often stepping up to lead, ensuring projects followed the program mission and that volunteers were educators. Working to beautify her community and enthusiastically sharing with anyone who asked questions. She initiated the Ready, Set, grow program and established the learning gardens that circled the VPC, demonstrating a rose garden, grass garden, xeriscape garden and more. She oversaw all the garden projects, making her “rounds” to inspect them monthly. Both she and Frank gave much time, energy, and love to SMG, they both were SMGA Board members and chaired many committees attending the college often until it was walking the campus became difficult. She loved tending to her garden at home with husband Frank and her yellow lab Trixie who always had a grape tomato planted at the end of a row. She would often concoct, and idea and husband Frank would jump in to engineer the plans to make it happen. Margaret loved driving and never turned down a good road trip, to visit family, or to go “On Holiday”, really enjoying the yearly trips to Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, in Crozet, for Gouda cheese to give as gifts.

Her joy came from helping others by sharing her knowledge and donating her time to researching various native flowers and vegetation for the beautification of the community. Her most favorite memories were watching football with Frank, hosting Super Bowl parties and helping at the Peanut Festival.

During her last two years of life, while living at Spring Arbor, Senior living, she shared her stories and sense of humor with the staff, residents and visitors. She took a special interest in the lives of those who cared for her.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Frank S. LaRocco; two sons, Robert Newsome and David Newsome Jr.; 1st husband David Newsome Sr.; and many cousins in the UK.

Margaret was a loving wife and mother, and is survived by her daughter, Ann M. Dunn (Jeffrey A. Dunn Sr.); her stepchildren, Gina LaRocco, Patricia LaRocco, Katie Work, and Michael LaRocco; foster brother, Ray Lorentz (Jean), and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The memorial service for Margaret will be held Friday, November 21, 2025, at 3:00 PM at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, Virginia 23188, followed by a reception after the service. The service will be available via live stream at https://www.facebook.com/125632257490458.

Interment for both Margaret and Frank will be held at Hampton Veteran Memorial Gardens on a later date, where they wanted their ashes to be together, forever.

"The family requests that, rather than sending flowers or making a donation, you please consider a simple act of kindness. Call a friend or relative you haven't spoken to in a while, visit a shut-in or senior living facility resident, or plant a favorite plant/tree in remembrance of them. All acts of kindness are greatly appreciated."