Lou Ann LaRoche deRoode passed away peacefully on February 12, 2025 at the Alive Hospice Residence in Nashville, Tennessee. During her 98 years of life she greeted each new day with a sense of optimism, appreciation for the beauty of the earth and hope for an opportunity to serve others. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She especially enjoyed a game of bridge, traveling, college football and a good joke.
She was born November 16, 1926 in Bellaire, Ohio to the late Andrew Nelson LaRoche and Roxie E. Hamilton LaRoche. She received her B.S. degree in Medical Technology from Penn State University. Following a year’s internship at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Columbus, Ohio she passed the board exams of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and received the title M.T.
While at Penn State she joined Alpha Xi Delta sorority and remained a loyal member until her death. She held many local, regional and national offices and made lifelong friends.
On September 10, 1949 she married David Peter deRoode in Columbus, Ohio. She remained his loving wife for 62 years until his death on September 15, 2011.
Her family was the most important aspect of her life. She also found time to volunteer her services as the family moved from Ohio to Georgia, New Jersey and Tennessee. She served several decades as a reader for the Talking Library, patient advocate at Vanderbilt Medical Center and as a Stephen Minister. She was a faithful member of Hillwood Presbyterian Church, Brentwood United Methodist Church and Bellevue Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include son, David Frederick deRoode (Diane Olson); daughter, Deborah deRoode Jacobs; grandchildren, William David deRoode (Claire), Kingslea deRoode Merkel (Hank), Stephen Wesley Jacobs (Jennifer); and great-grandchildren William Brayden Merkel and William Everest deRoode.
A family service of remembrance and celebration will be held later this year.
The family wishes to offer special thanks to the staff of Alive Hospice for their loving and compassionate care. Memorials may be made to Alive Hospice, Second Harvest Food Bank, Bellevue Presbyterian Church, or simply do a kind deed for someone in need.
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This obituary was published by Austin & Bell Funeral Home.
This obituary was published by Obituaries provided free for the community.
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