TSgt. Joseph Lawrence “Roach” LaRochelle, 38, United States Air Force (USAF) Security Forces and Phoenix Ravens, resident of Riverside County, passed away on Monday September 22, 2014 after a heroic fight against brain cancer. Joe is survived by his wife Jamie Tafoya-LaRochelle, his son Trent LaRochelle , his parents Barry and Jean LaRochelle of Carmel Maine, his sister Shanan and her husband Greg Johnston.
Joe graduated from Hermon High School in Hermon, Maine in 1994, and joined the United States Marine Corps. (USMC) in 1995. After serving four years as an MP in the USMC, Joe joined the USAF where he served 15 years, and concurrently served in the Santa Monica California Police Department. During his 19 years of military service Joe was part of many deployments and missions. Joe was currently stationed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California.
Joe had many loves and talents including his military life, his cats, Kane and Lear Jett, gaming, working out, heavy metal, art, tattoos, healthy lifestyle, Mustangs, and his Harley. Joe loved California, but his heart was in his home state of Maine. Joe loved life. He loved his many friends and brothers with whom he shared his life, but most of all the two special people in it, his wife and his son.
Because of Joe the heavens are a little brighter; and the world is so much better because of the love and dedication he gave to us all and to the country he loved so dearly.
Joe is also survived by his mother-in-law Barbara Najera; Aunts and uncles Debbie and Bill Cross; Ginny and Schuyler Sewall, and Bob Bridges; Sister-in-law Tereah and her husband Chris; Best Friends Mark and Brenda Estorga; nieces Brooke and Cydney, nephews, Jordan, Brady, Joseph J., Joseph O., Zyan, Xavier and Kane and many cousins, friends and loved ones. Joe is preceded by his grandparents Herbert and Lorraine Bridges and Maurice and Kathleen LaRochelle.
Joe’s fight was not alone, there are many people the family would like to thank for their love, support and dedication to Joe: the amazing doctors and nurses at UCLA Hospital, the USAF March Reserve Base, your love for Joe is unbelievable, the wonderful homecare nurses for their kindness and compassion, the Armenian Brigade, The El Monte City Council, The Vet Hunters Project, The Rio Grande Valley Blue Star Mothers, The Stone Canyon Apartments, and all the wonderful people who contributed to Joe’s fight. Most of all, thank you Joe for being you. You will be missed, our hearts are broken, but we will stay strong – #GIJoeLaRochelle
A graveside funeral service with full military honors will be held 1 PM, Wednesday, October 1, 2014, at Highland Cemetery, 659 Main Road, Carmel. Gifts in his memory may be made on line to the Joseph L. LaRochelle Fund at www.Indiegogo.com. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
Joe graduated from Hermon High School in Hermon, Maine in 1994, and joined the United States Marine Corps. (USMC) in 1995. After serving four years as an MP in the USMC, Joe joined the USAF where he served 15 years, and concurrently served in the Santa Monica California Police Department. During his 19 years of military service Joe was part of many deployments and missions. Joe was currently stationed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California.
Joe had many loves and talents including his military life, his cats, Kane and Lear Jett, gaming, working out, heavy metal, art, tattoos, healthy lifestyle, Mustangs, and his Harley. Joe loved California, but his heart was in his home state of Maine. Joe loved life. He loved his many friends and brothers with whom he shared his life, but most of all the two special people in it, his wife and his son.
Because of Joe the heavens are a little brighter; and the world is so much better because of the love and dedication he gave to us all and to the country he loved so dearly.
Joe is also survived by his mother-in-law Barbara Najera; Aunts and uncles Debbie and Bill Cross; Ginny and Schuyler Sewall, and Bob Bridges; Sister-in-law Tereah and her husband Chris; Best Friends Mark and Brenda Estorga; nieces Brooke and Cydney, nephews, Jordan, Brady, Joseph J., Joseph O., Zyan, Xavier and Kane and many cousins, friends and loved ones. Joe is preceded by his grandparents Herbert and Lorraine Bridges and Maurice and Kathleen LaRochelle.
Joe’s fight was not alone, there are many people the family would like to thank for their love, support and dedication to Joe: the amazing doctors and nurses at UCLA Hospital, the USAF March Reserve Base, your love for Joe is unbelievable, the wonderful homecare nurses for their kindness and compassion, the Armenian Brigade, The El Monte City Council, The Vet Hunters Project, The Rio Grande Valley Blue Star Mothers, The Stone Canyon Apartments, and all the wonderful people who contributed to Joe’s fight. Most of all, thank you Joe for being you. You will be missed, our hearts are broken, but we will stay strong – #GIJoeLaRochelle
A graveside funeral service with full military honors will be held 1 PM, Wednesday, October 1, 2014, at Highland Cemetery, 659 Main Road, Carmel. Gifts in his memory may be made on line to the Joseph L. LaRochelle Fund at www.Indiegogo.com. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
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