Verdieu L. Laroche, former pastor of the First Haitian Baptist church of Boston passed away on May 5, 2018, surrounded by his family.
The family will receive visitors at the First Haitian Baptist Church, 397 Blue Hill Ave., Boston on Friday May 18th from 5 to 9 pm. A funeral service will be held at the First Haitian Baptist Church on Saturday, May 19th at 9 am. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery, Hyde Park.
Rev. Dr. Verdieu Leonda LaRoche was born on February 12,1940 in Cahesse, Au Trou du Nord, Haiti, to Leonda LaRoche and Antelia Joseph LaRoche. Rev. LaRoche completed his formal studies in Cap Haitian and thereafter, received his calling from the Lord. In 1962, he entered the Baptist Theological Seminary in Limbe, Haiti.
While in the seminary, Rev. LaRoche interned in Plaisance, Haiti where he met Ms. Marie Rose Obas and prior to the start of his third year at the seminary, they were married on August 3, 1964. After graduating from the seminaiy, the Lord would take young Pastor LaRoche and Sister Marie Rose LaRoche to serve as pastor in St. Michel de L'Attalaye, Beladere and back to his home town of Au Trou du Nord.
In 1968, yearning for a better life for his family, which by this time included two young boys, Rev. LaRoche had his eyes set on moving to the United States. He made plans to go visit Boston, Massachusetts, where his sister-in-law, Mrs. Marie Viola Pierre (deceased) had already planted her roots with her family.
Pastor LaRoche along with a small group of Christian Haitians eventually organized and established the French Speaking Baptist Church in 1969.
Rev. LaRoche led the church through its formative years where the church saw growth in membership and after renting, the church moved to ownership when in 1975 it bought its first building on 1541 Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester. Then in 1977 - 1978, after prayer and more expansion, Pastor LaRoche led the congregation to purchasing its current location on 397 Blue Hill Avenue. Subsequently, in the mid-1980s Pastor LaRoche renamed the church to its current name First Haitian Baptist Church of Boston. A consummate visionary, Pastor LaRoche expanded his ministry in the early mid-1990s by planting a church in the middle of Massachusetts, First Haitian Baptist Church in Worcester.
During the 1990s, Pastor LaRoche continued the expansion of his ministry when he returned to his home town outside of Au-Trou du Nord - Cahesse. Rev. LaRoche started the North Haiti Mission.
In 2013, after surviving a coma, due to failing health, Pastor LaRoche was compelled, unwillingly, to retire from full time ministry. On March 15,2018, he fell at home and suffered a broken hip. His declining health could not support any surgical procedures. Pastor LaRoche was confined to a wheelchair and bed. On May 5, 2018 at 10:00pm surrounded by his family at home. Pastor LaRoche, founding Pastor of the First Haitian Baptist Church of Boston, transitioned to his eternal rest in the arms of the Lord.
Rev. Dr. Verdieu Leonda LaRoche is survived by his faithful loving wife and partner in the ministry, First Lady Mrs. Marie Rose Obas LaRoche; His three sons, Verdy and his family, Whitney and his family, and Donald and his family; His brothers, Leonard, Vernes and his family, Leonel and his family, and Onel and his family; His grandchildren - Antonio, Jordan, Courtney, Jeremiah, Lydie, Camille, Donald C, and Alec; His many nephews, and nieces.