Lena Vidrine Roach

Lena Vidrine Roach, 96, passed away Sunday, January 6, 2019.

She was born and raised in Evangeline Parish and very proud of her Cajun heritage. Lena received her undergraduate degree from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now ULL) and a master’s degree in English/Education from McNeese State University. Shortly after WWII, she met her late husband, Edmund D. Roach, while working as a proof reader for the newspaper in Corpus Christi, Texas. They were married for 54 years. She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Lake Charles for over sixty years.

Lena began her career as an elementary teacher and later taught English at Barbe High School. She delighted in helping her students experience the wonder of English as an art form. After retirement she was active in the Calcasieu-Cameron Retired Teachers Association for many years. At an early age, inspired by her schoolteachers, she developed a love for reading and writing which continued throughout her life. At age 10 her poem, "Success", was published in Young People's Magazine. Over the years her poetry and short stories appeared in several other magazines, professional periodicals and other regional publications. She wrote a “Dear Teacher” column for several newspapers in Texas and Louisiana. As a member of the local Bayou Writers Group, she enjoyed interacting with other aspiring authors. At the age of 93, she achieved a lifelong goal when her novel Whispers of the Past, a romantic, faith-based story, was accepted for commercial publication. She had just finished a draft of another novel shortly before her death.

Despite her accomplishments as a teacher and a writer, the role that brought her the greatest satisfaction and joy was that of mother and grandmother.

She is survived by her two children, Randy Roach (Nancy) and Lynne Hill (Ray); her four grandchildren – Brandon Roach (Clare), Lauren Bodin (Bo), Jessica Hill and Matthew Hill (Savannah); six great- grandchildren and another due later this year; a sister, Elma Brown, of Odessa, Texas; a brother, Dominique Vidrine, of Bandera, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be this Friday evening from 5-7pm and funeral services on Saturday at 10:30 am at Johnson's Funeral Home. Reverend Dr. Bobbie Yellott, a former student, will officiate. Burial will be in Consolata Cemetery at a later date under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Ed & Lena Roach Fund for Literacy at the Community Foundation of SWLA or the Charity of your choice.

The family would like to express their grateful appreciation to Lena's attending physicians, nurses and residential caregivers for their care and compassion during her last illness.