WILMINGTON — Martha Harrison Roche, of Wilmington, NC, passed away peacefully at home with her family beside her on Sunday evening, March 24, 2024. Although she had some age-related health issues towards the end, she was active and engaged with her family and friends until very recently.
She thrived in social settings and had a free spirit and a childlike curiosity about almost everything. Her enthusiasm was contagious and her absence will be felt by so many that have known her and loved her.
Martha was born in Wyandotte, Oklahoma and is the daughter of Hugh H. Harrison and Dorothy Rogers Harrison. Her father, Hugh, was a Methodist minister, so her family regularly moved from town to town across the “Sooner State” as she was growing up. Martha graduated from Tulsa University where she majored in Music which allowed her to focus on her passion.
She met the love of her life, John F. Roche, after college, and they were married for over 63 years. John and Martha moved to Charlotte, NC in the late 1960’s where John had a job opportunity with SunHealth, a healthcare consulting company currently known as Premier, Inc. They were active members of Sharon United Methodist Church and remained in Charlotte for over 40 years until they relocated to Wilmington in 2013 to be near family.
From choral singing to piano teaching, music was her love and her life. Martha taught piano her entire adult life and only retired last year at the age of 87. She was a gifted musician and an enthusiastic teacher who shared her gift with so many people through her teaching over the years. She constantly researched new teaching techniques and never lost her enthusiasm for sharing what she had learned with her students and her family. She loved singing in the church choir and got great pleasure from making music with others.
Although Martha has risen from this earth, we find peace in the knowledge that she has joined her family members that have preceded her, including her parents, Hugh and Dorothy; and her sister, Phyllis Reneau.
She leaves behind her husband, John Roche; her brother, Bill Harrison (Loretta); two
children…Laura Moser (Mark) and Greg Roche (Nicole); and 4 grandchildren who loved her dearly.
There will be a celebration service for Martha Roche on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 2 p.m. at the Wrightsville Beach Methodist Church located at 4 Live Oak Drive, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480. A reception will follow the service.
