Catherine Roche Harrell

Catherine Mae Roche Harrell, 89, of 152 Battlefield Court, Manteo, NC, died Thursday, September 12, 2024, in The Hospice House of Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach, VA.

 Mrs. Harrell was born in Long Beach. CA, on July 19, 1935, and was the daughter of the late Francis Joseph Roche and Viola Mae Pigg Roche Tripp. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Loney “J.L.” Harrell, Jr.; a daughter, Brenda Sue Cherry; two brothers, Frank and Charles Roche; and by two grandchildren, Amanda Lane and Rachel Hunter Dickey.

 A longtime resident of Edenton, she and J.L. lived in the historic Mill Village community and raised their children in the faith of First Christian Church. Many years later after moving to Manteo, they were members of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kitty Hawk. Catherine worked at George C. Moore Company for 28 years and retired as a floor supervisor and prior to that worked as a nurse’s aide Chowan Hospital. She will be remembered by her friends and family for her blue eyes, her feisty personality, her love of dancing, traveling, perfecting her tan, and for being an enthusiastic Rummy player.

 Surviving are her children, Debra H. Nixon (husband, Stewart) of Elizabeth City, John L. Harrell, III (wife, Jenny) of Manteo, and Jeffrey S. Harrell (wife, Cynthia) of Providence Forge, VA; a brother, Donald W. Roche (wife, Judith) of Nags Head; 16 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and many, many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

 A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 19th, at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home and Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, and will be conducted by Kenny Watson. Friends may visit with the family immediately following the service. The burial will follow in Beaver Hill Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to The Hospice House of Hampton Roads, P.O. Box 683, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, or online at www.hospicehousehr.org.

 Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.