John C. Roche of the Ward Hill section of Haverhill passed away on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at his home after a long illness.
Born in North Andover on January 9, 1922, son of James T. & Nora (Cronin) Roche.
He served in the United States Army in World War II. He was employed at General Electric Company in the 1940's and at Glennie's Milk Company in North Andover for over 30 years. He worked at Foss Chemical Company until his retirement.
Mr. Roche was an avid horseman. He owned thoroughbred horses his entire life and raced them at area tracks. He owned Roche Farm where he boarded and rehabilitated thoroughbreds for 50 years.
He was the husband of the late: Phyllis (Gauthier) Roche who passed in 2001. He leaves his two daughters: Laurie and her husband Michael Lyons of Bradford, MA. and Cathy Roche of Wardhill. He leaves a sister Helene Donohue of North Andover, and six grand children: Jason Lyons of Washington State, Rebecca Moody and husband Jeff of Atkinson, NH, Nora Lyons-Sauter and husband David of Haverhill, Kaitlin Lyons Tustin, California, Courtney Trembler and her husband Ryan of Peabody, MA, and J. Tyler Lyons of Bradford. He also leaves five great grand children: Brendan and Spencer Moody, Daniel Sauter and Abigail and Jordan Lyons.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 11:00AM in All Saints Church in Haverhill, MA. A burial will follow in the Linwood Cemetery in Haverhill, MA.
Friends may call on Friday, June 26, 2009 morning from 9:00AM to 10:30AM at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home Inc. 35 Merrimack Street, North Andover, MA, 01845. For more information or to send an online condolence go to: www.breenfuneralhome.com.