Obituary of Susie Ana Laroche

Susie Ana Laroche was born December 24, 1934 in Laurens, South Carolina to Connies Bryson Martin and Vannoy Martin. She passed from this world surrounded by family on January 28, 2024. Susie does not pass from our hearts.

Susie was one of seven lively singing children who started off picking cotton, farming, attending a oneroom school house, and attending Flat Ruff Baptist church. The Martin family migrated north to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1955 where they worshiped at Mount Olivet Baptist Church. She became a member and started singing in the choir in July, 1955. In 1961 she married Gilbert Laroche - a handsome preacher from Haiti. They worshiped at Pilgrim Baptist Church, and then at Forest Lake Baptist Church following a move with their children to Forest Lake, Minnesota. She supported Gilbert in his ministry which they moved to the Texas-Mexico border in 1981 where they started a church and shelter for refugees. After 13 years, Ms. Susie and Gilbert returned to St. Paul and their first grandchildren. After Gilbert’s death in 1999, she returned to her beloved home-church, Mt. Olivet Baptist. In 2011, she began the adventure of traveling between California, Wisconsin, and South Saint Paul to spend part of each year with her three children’s families. Her adopted church in California was Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church; and in Wisconsin, it was St. John’s UCC.

Two years ago Ms. Susie made Minnesota and Mount Olivet her permanent home. She held leadership roles in the choir and other church committees.

Ms. Susie spent most of her adult life nourishing and sheltering people physically and spiritually… and singing. She prepared food in hospitals and restaurants. Her kitchen table and heart were always open for the dozen’s of young basketball and football players her children and grandchildren brought through her home. And always she sung — in the choir, in the kitchen, to her grandchildren, in the middle of a sentence, at prayer, and even in the last days of her life.

Susie is in the arms of God, her husband, her parents; her siblings Carrie, James, Vannoy, Addison (AD), Lucy, Emma; her siblings-in-law Garnell and Emma Lee; and her first-born son William. Susie is survived and deeply loved by her children Regina Laroche-Theune (Jeff Theune), Charles Laroche (Erica Weiss Laroche), and Leon (Lanaya) Laroche; her grandchildren Andre’, Jessica, Jordan (Morgan), Trei (Alanna), Trevor (Elisa),Todd (Whitney), Gabriella, and Lucas; great grandchildren; sistersin-law Mattie and Dorothea Martin, and Carolyn Laroche; her brother-in-law Sam Dendy; and a host of nephews and nieces; and great nieces and nephews.

Ms. Susie, Mom, Grandma, Auntie, Great Grandma, you have taught us faith, love, singing, and joy… and that Perry Mason always wins. We love you!

Please join us on Zoom to watch the service.

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