Ruby “Necy” Janice LaRocca, 86, of Beaumont, Texas, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, January 31, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at Meadows Church of Christ in Beaumont.
Born in Palacios, Texas, on December 14, 1931, she was the daughter of Andrew Duncan “A.D.” and Laura (Fowler) Whitten. Janice grew up in Stockdale, Texas, and graduated valedictorian from Stockdale High School in 1949.
She moved to Beaumont later that same year where she eventually met her beloved husband, John “Johnny” LaRocca Sr., on a blind date. They were married in 1953.
Along with being a master seamstress, Janice and her husband successfully ran a small grocery store, Rock’s Shop It on Steelton Ave., from 1975 to 2003. Janice loved to cook and had it down to an art. She was an amazing caregiver to anyone in need and an active member of the Ridgewood Church of Christ for more than 50 years.
She loved traveling, card games, and dominos with her friends. Most of all, she enjoyed time spent with her great-grandchildren.
Janice is preceded in death by her parents A.D. and Laura Whitten, her loving husband of 49 years, John LaRocca, Sr.; brothers, Dale Whitten, A.D. Whitten, Jr., Norris Whitten, and sister Melba Perkins.
She is survived by her three children, John LaRocca Jr. of Beaumont, Marc LaRocca and his wife Melissa of Montgomery, and Laura LaRocca Ivers of Schertz; grandchildren, Lauren LaRocca and her husband Jesse Meyer of Pearland, Allison LaRocca and her husband Dominic Dertatevasion of College Station, Andrew Ivers of Beaumont, Meredith Sherman and her husband Joshua of Orangefield, and James Ivers of Fort Polk, Louisiana; great-grandchildren Anna and Olivia Dertatevasion, Lucas and Samuel Meyer, and Wyatt Sherman; and her brother Jerry Whitten.