Ronald George Roche
May 7, 1935 ~ January 28, 2016
Resided in:
Pueblo, CO
The Rev. Fr. Ronald George Roche, 80, passed away Jan. 28, 2016, in Pueblo. He was born May 7, 1935, in Salida, Colo. to Agnes Doherty Roche and Vincent Roche. He is survived by his cousin, Sally Lind, of Cañon City, Colo.
Father Roche studied at Holy Cross Abbey School in Cañon City, continuing philosophical and theological formation as well as St. Benedict's in Atchison, Kan. and Conception Abbey in Conception, Mo. Br. Ron was ordained priest for his monastic community of the Holy Cross Abbey on May 20, 1961, and was incardinated into the Diocese of Pueblo Feb. 10, 1998. He obtained his Masters Degree in Religious Education from Loyola Institute of Pastoral Studies.
His first assignment was Parochial Vicar at St. Michael Church in Cañon City. During his career, he served as Parochial Vicar at St. Leander in Pueblo, teacher at the Abbey School, Religious Education Director at St. John the Baptist in Longmont, Colo., Assistant Chaplain at the Newman House of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Father Roche returned to St. Michael as Associate and then Pastor. His later assignments were: Administrator of St. Peter in Rocky Ford, Colo., St. Peter in Ordway, Colo. and St. Joseph the Worker in Manzanola, Parochial Vicar at Holy Family in Pueblo, Hospital Chaplain at St. Mary Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo, Pastor of St. Francis Xavier in Pueblo and Parochial Vicar of the Historic Southside Catholic Community, Pueblo, until he officially retired in 2002.
Viewing from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Montgomery & Steward Chapel. Funeral Mass, 10 a.m. Wednesday , Feb. 3, 2016, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 414 W. 11th St. Interment, Roselawn Cemetery. Online condolences, www.montgomerysteward.com
A great priest in the tradition of St. Benedict.
Father Ronald was a great guy with a whacky and wonderful sense of humor. He always had a twinkle in his eye. I remember at the Abbey school in the sixties when he had two toupees. One was a flat top short hair and one was a longer style. One day he would come in to teach class with the flat top, and the next day he would come in with the longer style. The next day he would come into class with the flat top. You had to love a guy who didn’t take his physical appearance seriously.
Rest in peace Father Ron.
Tim Printz
Class of 1966
Fr. Ronald was my prefect at the Abbey and co-celebrated my wedding with my wife’s Lutheran minister. I was blessed to know him as teacher, spiritual example and as a friend. I look forward to embracing him in the next life. May the Heavenly Host grant him the loving peace he so richly deserves.
May you rest in peace great servant of God. Ed Sabatka Abbey Class 67