Pauline I. LaRocca

Pauline I. LaRocca

Pauline I. LaRocca was born in Center, Texas, on May 4, 1920, to B.W. and Eunice Harris Creech. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where she served as President of the Parish Council, a St. Joseph Ladies Club member as well as Sacred Heart, a lector, and sang in the choir. For years, she, her daughter, and son-in-law representing St. Joseph collected and distributed food for the needy.

When Pauline first came to Beaumont at the age of 19, she worked at the Enterprise Café and was a cashier at the Black Cat Café in downtown Beaumont. She married Victor J. LaRocca, in 1941. Pauline worked for 7-Up Bottling Company as a secretary. She and her twin sister, Christine would dress alike and pass samples of 7-Up to customers in grocery stores. Pauline served as President of Junker School’s PTA and became a life time member. Also at Junker School she served as a substitute teacher.

Pauline volunteered many hours with American Red Cross where she taught first aid and demonstrated CPR using the “Recessa Ann” doll. She started a program collected food and clothing for those in need. She as a “Gray Lady” for St. Elizabeth Hospital. Pauline was assigned the task of heading a group of women to sew garments to send to Algiers and also send dolls with homemade dresses for the children. She became an employee of the American Red Cross and one of many assignments were to get soldiers home to be with their families in times of family crisis. During the Vietnam War a soldier sent her a doll as a thank you for getting him home for his mother’s funeral. Many nights Pauline and her family were awakened by the phone as families pleaded to get their sons home for a funeral of a parent or loved one. While at American Red Cross, Pauline taught first aid and also had the honor of serving on the Civil Defense Board. She was invited to lecture for many organizations, one of which was the American Business Women’s Association. Pauline retired in 1985 as Director of Services to military families.

In Pauline’s younger days, she and her three sisters picked cotton and worked as sharecroppers and farmers. She was proud of the fact that she could pick 100 pounds of cotton in competition with her sisters. She would say, “Papa was proud of his girls that worked like men.”

Some of Pauline’s hobbies were gardening and also sewing for the public. She sewed a dress and petticoat for a lady in the Neches River Festival that won a blue ribbon for the fullest petticoat when measured around. She also made costumes for Widman’s School of Dance.

Pauline enjoyed making pineapple pies. She loved having friends and family in her home for holidays and cooked most everything herself. She shared her cornbread dressing recipe as well as her bar-b-que sauce recipe with all who asked for them. Her spaghetti sauce and meatballs haven’t been duplicated. Only she had that secret ingredient. Her grandchildren remember spending the night at her home and waking to pancakes in the morning while playing with her beloved dogs, Boots and Sissy. Pauline loved animals and never turned them or anyone away hungry. On holidays, there was always someone invited to dinner that had no place to go and she made them feel welcome and a part of the family.

Pauline loved her family and was always there for them if they needed shelter or understanding. While sick, the nurses would pass by her room during the night to find her praying. They loved her smile and blue eyes. She was a proud Democrat and if you didn’t agree with her, you were in trouble. She could be critical and this often kept people away if you were offended by it. She was a survivor of all she has been through. The “Great Depression” was one. Another was when she was born and mistaken for dead and laid aside while her twin was delivered. Afterwards, Pauline was dipped in warm and cold water and soon revived but with a broken arm. She learned to be a fighter. Pauline fought for what she believed was right and also for the fight of her life after two major brain surgeries. She wanted her children to be proud of her. And we are. We love you, Mama!

Pauline is survived by her children, Victor J. LaRocca, Jr. and his wife, Jane, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Charles L. LaRocca and his wife, Leann; and Camille Mahan and her husband, Aubrey “Gene”, all of Beaumont; eight grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brother, Paul Creech of Mesquite; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, B.W. and Eunice Creech; husband, Victor J. LaRocca; twin sister, Christine Hollomon; sisters, Ruth Roberts and Syble Waters; and brother, Eldredge Creech.

A Rosary for Mrs. LaRocca’s will be recited at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 22, 2014, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 23, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1115 Orange Street, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.

Serving as pallbearers are her grandsons, Victor J. LaRocca III, Charles M. LaRocca; and nephews, Nick LaRocca, Sam LaRocca, Ronnie Hollomon, and Mike Creech.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund, 1115 Orange Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701.