Martha Harrison Roche
February 11, 1936 - March 24, 2024

Martha Harrison Roche
February 11, 1936 – March 24, 2024

Martha Harrison Roche, of Wilmington, NC, passed away peacefully at home with her family beside her
on Sunday evening, March 24 th , 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 th , 2024 at 2:00pm at the
Wrightsville Beach Methodist Church located at 4 Live Oak Drive, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480. A
reception will follow the service.