CENTENARIAN

Francis Roch

Spokane Valley

Francis Joseph Roch celebrated his 100th birthday on May 16 at the Immaculate Conception Church, Post Falls. He was born May 16, 1904, in Chicago and has lived in the Pacific Northwest for the past 34 years.

Due to his mother’s illness, Francis moved to the Maryville Academy boarding school in Chicago, when he was 7 years old. He left Maryville Academy at age 13 and became the night manager at a Western Union office in Chicago.

In 1930, he moved to Phoenix where he worked as a gardener during the Depression.

He went to visit his father in 1933 in Sunland, Calif., and while there, he acquired a job with the Army finance department. For many years he worked as an accountant at Fort McArthur, Calif., for the Army finance department and in the ship building department; he also audited freight bills and government bills with Western Truck Lines.

He met Stella Rose in 1949 in the Mojave Desert at a St. Bonaventure meeting for Catholic singles. They married in 1953.

Roch said Shaklee vitamins, a good sense of humor and a smile for everyone have helped him live a long and healthy life. When asked, “How are you doing, Frank?” his response is, “I’m still breathing.”

He still enjoys playing cards, singing hymns to Our Lady and is an avid Mariners baseball fan.

Francis’ most memorable moment in the past 100 years has been his unwavering Catholic faith and diligence to prayer. He still attends church at the Immaculate Conception Church.