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Birth:          7 Jul 1928 Abington Twp., Montgomery Co., Pa.
Death:          17 May 2020 Searsmont, Maine

Notes
!PUBL
1981 book:
Edith and Chester were divorced.
Source: John Sibley (1E5255321)
1999: living in Searsmont, Maine
Obituary of Alice Sibley Barnard, Phila Inquirer 7 Jan 1999
1930 in Hamden, New Haven, Conn.
fb post by Alizee David
fb post by Todd Laroche
Todd LaRoche Mom’s obituary:
Edith B. LaRoche
SEARSMONT — Edith Barnard LaRoche, 91, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 17, 
2020, at home, with children by her side.
She was born July 7, 1928, in Abington Township, Pennsylvania, the daughter of 
Lewis Ruggles Barnard and Alice Sibley Barnard.
Edith was a lover of weathered barns and backyard birds and the land she lived on in 
Maine. Her great diversity of interests and involvement bestowed her with many loving 
friends from all walks of life.
She was a skilled artist who worked in traditional and unconventional mediums and 
produced many paintings, drawings, sculptures and constructions throughout her life. 
Her granddaughter‘s short film, appropriately called "Stuffed," captured Edith’s 
devotion to her art and, in particular, to her intimate, animated black-and-white 
drawings of the unloved stuffed animals she found at tag sales.
Edith grew up on the East Coast and attended Bennett Junior College and Columbia 
University, where she received her degree in Occupational Therapy.
In her younger years, she and her husband, Chester, kicked up their heels at the 
Stork and “El Moroc” in New York City. She modeled dresses at Bergdorf Goodman 
and worked in the art department at Harper's Bazaar magazine, where she befriended 
Andy Warhol.
While raising her family in Connecticut, she stayed active in local organizations such 
as the Fairfield Organic Gardeners and worked as an occupational therapist caring for 
geriatric patients, all while continuing to create art.
She was an animal lover who raised two clutches of abandoned baby wrens to 
adulthood — some would return, with their offspring, to her yard every year. She was 
the type of mother who let her kids take in stray animals and who built a skating rink 
in the front yard with two-by-fours and plastic sheeting.
She retired to Searsmont, where she worked as an assessor, a job she enjoyed 
because she loved meeting new people. She volunteered at the old library and helped 
build the new one. She also volunteered as a tutor for adults learning to read.
For many years, Edith painted weekly with her friends in the Lively Ladies. She could 
wire a lamp, spin wool, cut and haul wood, forage for wild plants, and she loved to 
knock back a bourbon while discussing world events.
She is survived by her children Todd and his wife, Lori; Cara and her husband, 
Philippe; and Amy; grandchildren Tristan and Alizee; great-granddaughter, Mia; brother 
Ned and his wife, Pauline; many beloved nieces and nephews and Rory, her loyal dog 
of 15 years.
She was predeceased by her sister, Nancy.
No service is planned. When the time is right, her ashes will be scattered on her land. 
She gave generously to environmental groups and was a champion for our 
beleaguered Earth.
To honor her, make a donation to an organization you feel is helping the planet and its 
inhabitants, and think about Edie.

Parents
BARNARD Lewis Ruggles (12 Apr 1900 - 3 Apr 1984)
SIBLEY Alice Matlack (2 Mar 1904 - 6 Jan 1999)

Siblings
BARNARD Nancy Ruggles (24 Jul 1926 - 30 Mar 1998)
BARNARD Edith Roberts (7 Jul 1928 - 17 May 2020)
BARNARD Edward Sibley ("Ned") ()

Marriage To LAROCHE Chester Rea (29 Sep 1926 - 24 Mar 2006)
    m. 27 Jun 1953 dv. EST 1975 

Notes

Parents
LAROCHE Chester James ()
HOPKINS Mathilde ()

Children by LAROCHE Chester Rea 29 Sep 1926 - 24 Mar 2006
LAROCHE Todd Barnard ()
LAROCHE Cara Hopkins ()
LAROCHE Amelia ("Amy") ()

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