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BORN
1957,
DIED
2016
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Thomas Rochat Obituary
Thomas E Rochat, 59, of 610 Virgil Creek Road died as the result of a car accident on Monday, November 14, 2016. Born August 4, 1957, in Cortland, son of Charles and Lois Rochat.
Thomas attended Virgil Elementary School and graduated from Cortland Sr High in 1975. He briefly attended SUNY Morrisville for Agricultural Engineering. He worked various jobs until moving to Norton, Massachusetts in 1978. He then worked at Draper Brothers in Canton, Massachusetts. He moved to Ocala, Florida and worked for the PALL Corporation where he became a certified welder. After moving back to New York, he worked as a millwright for 20+ years, traveling extensively the Northeast. During his travels he loved to take photographs of scenery, landscapes, and especially sunsets. He was highly skilled and often requested. He was proud of his welding skills and was the number one welder on all jobs he worked on.
In his free time, Tommy enjoyed the outdoors - fishing and hunting. He especially loved extermingating vermin. He was always willing to lend anyone a helping hand - if it was broke... he could fix it. Always a child at heart, he enjoyed watching classic cartoons and Dinsey animated films with his beloved cat, Silky. He also enjoyed playing pool and led an active social life. He was well liked by nearly everyone who met him. He was always the life of the party with a joke, song, or comment. His favorite saying was, "You'll have that!"
He is survived by his mother, Lois (Rochat) Stafford of Dryden; his brother Charles Rochat III of Oklahma City; his sister Jeannine (Jeff) Sprague of Virgil. Nieces and nephews: Lois (Louis) Loiselle of Cortland, David Rochat of Oklahoma City, Kevin (Heather) Rochat of Oklahoma City, Devon Perry of Norton, MA, Robert Rochat of Oklahoma City, Elisabeth (Joel) Fluger of Virgil, and Olivia Sprague of Virgil. In addition to several grandnieces/ nephews.
He is predeceased by his father, Charles A Rochat Jr and his brother, Robert R. Rochat.
Services will be held at Perkins Funeral Home, 55 West Mail Street, Dryden, on Saturday, November 19, 2016. The funeral will be at 2pm and family will receive friends and family from 12:00 to 2pm. Burial will follow at Virgil Rural Cemetary. A celebration of life and dish to pass will be held at the Virgil Methodist Church following the burial. Special thanks to Virgil Fire and Rescue, Dryden Ambulance, and TLC EMS. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Virgil Fire and Rescue or Dryden Ambulance. www.perkinsfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Rochat
Sponsored by The Ithaca Journal.
Charlene Teixeira-Perry
November 18, 2016
May the Good Lord welcome you with open arms and your family treasure the moments you had in their lives that give them the strengh to live on I pray for eternal life until you all meet again I am thankful you touched my life and you will be forever in my heart.
Tricia Clark
November 18, 2016
My deepest condolences on your loss. You are all in my prayers.
Linda Heymering
November 17, 2016
Jeannine, I'm so sorry for your sudden loss. Our family will hold you & yours close to our hearts.
Linda, Rien & Matt
Paula Burda
November 17, 2016
So sorry for your loss,Jeannine.My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Marie Wood Shepard
November 17, 2016
Tom was a kind and funny man. I remember him always joking around. He use to give me a ride to work in Ithaca when he was going through Dryden. He saw me standing out in the rain waiting for a bus, and stopped...I really appreciated it. He said he knew me and didn't want to see me get soaked...very kind.
Nicole Rongo Sheehan
November 17, 2016
Tom was always kind and giving! Would do anything for anyone! So sad to hear of his passing. Condolences to family and friends.
Joan Northup Jorden
November 17, 2016
I am so sorry for your loss. God be with you all.
November 17, 2016
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Raimond DiIorio
November 17, 2016
R.I.P. Tom, so sad you left us at such a young age
Carlene (Krueger) Hall
November 17, 2016
Dear Jeannine and family,
Once again I can't tell you how sorry I am for the loss of Tom. In the last couple of days I have thought about living in Virgil, down the road from you guys, our times on the school bus, etc. May your hearts heal and you begin to think about Tom and your years with him and not dwell on the pain of losing him. My prayers are with you.
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