Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Gabriel Rocha Obituary
Gabriel Rocha, age 53, a resident of Portage, passed away on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. He was born on March 21, 1958 in East Chicago, IN, the son of Jesus and Maria Rocha. Gabriel was a 1976 graduate of Edison High School. He was married to Barbara Miller on July 16, 1983 in Merrillville. Gabe worked as a Manager of BOF Operations at Arcelor Mittal Steel in Burns Harbor and had also worked at the Arcelor Mittal - Indiana Harbor plant for over 32 years. He was a member Glen Park Masonic Lodge # 732 and a member of Scottish Rite - Valley of South Bend. Gabe was a longtime coach for Portage Youth Basketball, he coached for the Portage Little League, and also a coach for the AAU Traveling Basketball league. He enjoyed golf, water skiing, softball, sports, and was a huge Chicago Bears fan. Gabe was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and a dear friend to all. Gabe is survived by his loving family: wife, Barbara Rocha of Portage; son Joshua Rocha of Hobart; daughters: Jessica (Matt) Miklos of DeMotte and Jennifer Rocha of Portage; parents: Jesus and Maria Rocha of Lake Station; brothers: Jorge Rocha of Hobart, Fernando (Maria) Rocha of Bakersfield, CA, Louis (Brenda) Rocha of Valparaiso, and James Rocha of Lake Station; sisters: Terry (Al) Gomez of Portage, Dianna (Mike) Miller of Portage, and Esther (Jerry) Baldazo of Lake Station; numerous nieces and nephews, and other loving family and dear friends. A visitation for Gabriel Rocha will be held from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 21, 2011 directly at Real Life Community Church, 3134 Swanson Road, Portage. A Masonic Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday evening at Real Life Church. A funeral service for Gabriel Rocha will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at Real Life Community Church, with Pastor Duane Schmidt, officiating. Burial will be at Angelcrest Cemetery in Chesterton. Memorials in Gabe's memory may be made to the Rocha family. For further information please call Rees Funeral Home at (219) 762-3013 or online at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Gabriel Rocha
Georgiana Kipp
March 19, 2012
Dear Barb,
So very sorry to hear about your loss. We just found out about it today. Said a prayer for Gabe. God's blessing on your family.
Lee and Georgiana Kipp
April & Tim
November 23, 2011
Barb and kids,
We are so sorry to read of Gabe's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Alana Ingersoll
November 22, 2011
I have never been to a visitation quite like Gabe's. What a testimony of love for the Rocha family -Barb, Josh, Jessica, Jenny and many more- as hundreds and hundreds of people who have been touched by Gabe and his kindness came to pay respects to his family.
May our wonderful Lord wrap his arms around you all and give you strength and peace!!
The Ingersoll family
John Minchuk
November 22, 2011
Gabe my co-worker, my supervisor, my Mason brother, wish I would have kept better contact with you, that was my loss. You will be remembered and missed by your friends and Brothers. Your family will be in my prayers.
Wilken Family
November 21, 2011
So sorry for your loss. He couched my daughter many years ago in PYB. He was a great coach and all around nice guy. All these years later I would see him around town and at a couple of weddings and he would ask about her by name with great smile on his face. Truly he will be missed by many.
Anne Pickering
November 21, 2011
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Let memories be your wings.
Anne Pickering and family
November 21, 2011
Barb and Families... I am truly sorry for your loss. He will be deeply missed. He was a very kind hearted man. My heart breaks for all of you. May he rest in peace. You will always carry your memories of him with you in your hearts forever. God bless your whole family.
Roxanne Sanders
November 21, 2011
Barb,Josh,Jessica and Jenny I'm truly sorry you lost a great person he is in your heart and in your memories always.
paula butera
November 21, 2011
There are no words, I hope you are comforted by all the love pouring out in prayer by all the people that knew Gabe. He was truly a kind and patient person, happy to share his talents and warm smile with the young people of Portage, and their parents .He will be missed, yet always remembered . God be with you in this time of sorrow.
November 21, 2011
To the Rocha/Miller Families,
We are so sorry about Gabe. We pray that God gives you all the strength, love and support to get through these next few days. We are here always for you..whenever and for whatever. Gabe is at peace in heaven and his warmth can be felt in your hearts each time you think of him. Love to all! The Danielson Family
November 21, 2011
I think it was May of 1977 and Gabe and I were screaming down the Indiana Toll Road in that yellow car of his- (was it a "Monte Carlo"-with the round windows in the back seat?)....when we hit something.
We were fresh out of high school and trying to figure out the rest of our lives and we both thought we might be good cops. ...or FBI agents....or who knows.
When you're 18, there are two things you know for sure---you need money, NOW..........and you'll get a career later.
So we went to Calumet College in Whiting and shared car-pooling from our Lake Station homes as we helped each other out during the GAS-CRISIS of the time, and studied such topics as "Laws of Evidence" and "Criminal Psychology".........not to mention "Art appreciation" and "Philosophy" which we both muddled through and shrugged our shoulders at.
It was a two year program to get an Associates degree in the field of Law Enforcement.
It was around that time -maybe a year later I think-that Gabe told me he'd taken a part-time job at Inland Steel and our schedule of sharing car-time togegether would probably change soon.
Neither of us would become important agents in the enforcemt of laws.
We just found jobs that paid the bills and fed the kids and we put the dillusions of our youth on hold...........
When the yellow Monte Carlo with the funky round windows hit that chunk of debris on the toll-road in 1977 I'll always remember what Gabe Rocha did.
Although the car was swerving wildly towards the concrete barriers along the median in those first few moments, his right arm swung towards me and pressed my back against the seat.
While he was in great jeapordy, he protected the people around him, as best as he could.
That was Gabe.
-Fred
Alicia Lopez-Rodriguez
November 20, 2011
My condolences to the Rocha Family may you find comfort in the legacy he left by touching so many lives.
Brenda(West,Darnell) Iwan
November 20, 2011
To The Rocha Family, My Deepest Sympathy to uou all. I went to school with Gabe and some of his siblings. Was even your neighbor on Robbins Road fora short time. My heart breaks for all of you; Gabe was a good person. I remember him working with my ex husband(Clyde)at McDonalds as a teenager and with me older brother (Kenny
West)at Inland. God Be Will Be with you Barbara and the kids. God Bless you all!!!.
pamela bell
November 20, 2011
To TheRocha Family
Mrs.Rocha and Family you have our deepest sympathy. #2B.O.F. co-workers
Dana & Kaleen (Curtis) Follow, Class of '76
November 20, 2011
To the Rocha Family,
Gabe will be sorely missed. Our prayers go out to you all and may you be comforted in all the fond memories of Gabe through this difficult time.
The Houlihans
November 20, 2011
Barb, Josh, Jessica, Jenny,
May God give you the strength and peace you need during this difficult time. Gabe was the BEST!!! He lives in the hearts of many always!!! Love u all
Regina Mayerhofer
November 19, 2011
RIP just way to young all my sympathy Regina Webb Crown Point,IN
Lindsey Bannerman
November 19, 2011
You all are in my thoughts and prayers. So sorry for your loss.
~Love and Sympathy~
November 19, 2011
Dear Barb, Joshua, Jessica, and Jenny, May God bless and keep you, and guide you through this difficult time. We will miss Gabe deeply. His memory will be held dearly. Our Deepes Sympathy.
Love The Chorba Family
the Sacketts
November 19, 2011
Barb, Josh, Jessica & Jenny, our deepest sympathy for the loss of your husband and dad. Gabe will always be remembered in our hearts! May God bless you today and always<3
John Dramisino
November 19, 2011
RIP Gabe. A great guy and steelmaker. You will be sorely missed.
hicks
November 19, 2011
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
November 19, 2011
I had the great pleasure of working with Gabe in PYB. He coached my daughter as well as volunteering as a board member. Everyone liked Gabe, perhaps it was that great smile I remember . He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. My thoughts and prayers are with Barb and family. Barb Moehl
PETE NEGRON
November 19, 2011
God Bless the Rocha family from LOCAL 1010
Showing 1 - 25 of 25 results
Make a Donation
in Gabriel Rocha's name
Memorial Events
for Gabriel Rocha
Funeral services provided by:
Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel - Portage5341 Central Ave., Portage, IN 46368
How to support Gabriel's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Gabriel Rocha's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
