Frank Joseph Rochon

Frank was born in Everett, WA, July 15, 1956 to Ronald and Beverly Rochon. He resided there throughout his early years attending Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and Everett High School, graduating in 1974. Frank married Trudi Etta Rochon on April 10, 1987, after a five year courtship. Shortly thereafter, they made their home in Bellingham, WA, where they went on to build a happy life together with their beloved canines.

Frank spent his teenage years chasing the lure of the sea with his grandfather, Frank Barcott, on his salmon fishing boat, The Lemes. It was during those early years Frank found his calling in the life of a seaman, carrying on his grandfather’s legacy, fishing the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to California. He did so from 1973 until the end of his life. Frank worked on the vessel Friendship for many years, and later, fished and became alternate skipper of the Muir Milach for Aleutian Spray Fisheries. Frank was well respected in the fishing community and had garnered colleagues and friends near and far in the fishing community, many of whom he considered family.

Frank had many loves -- his wife, family, canine Juni, an appreciation for woodworking, and his extensive collection of music. The one thing he will be most remembered for, however, will always be his obsession for knitting. He was quite skilled, having been taught the art by his mother and grandmother Rochon. Belonging to a local knitting club, he always looked forward to his Thursday knit nights (aka “knitting with the ladies”) where he honed his skills under the guidance of the friends he made there. Many of us will cherish the fruits of his labor for this generation, as well as the next.

Family and friends can attest to Frank’s boisterous side, and how it could fill up a room; his laughter never ceased to bring a smile. He could wolf down a plate of mostaccioli and sauerkraut in no time flat, and he could do it twice. He was a generous soul who always took the time to help his family and friends and never wanted in return.

Frank is preceded in death by his mother, Beverly Rochon. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Trudi; his father and wife, Ronald and Joan Rochon; his siblings, Ronald Jr. & Wendy Rochon, Dan & Carol Rochon, Kate Cudaback, and Amy & Lewis Goldthorpe; 9 step-siblings; brother-in-law, and his wife, Michael & Julie; sisters-in-law, and their husbands, Carolyn & Jim, Janet & Butch; his many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, as well as many great-nieces and nephews.

A vigil of the Holy Rosary will be held at 10:30 a.m., January 14, 2013, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 2617 Cedar Ave, Everett, WA, 98201, followed by an 11 a.m. funeral mass. A reception will follow directly after the services at Hensen Hall located adjacent to the church from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. An internment ceremony for the family will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Everett at 2 p.m., where Frank will be laid to rest with his mother Beverly.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Frank to the Seattle Fisherman’s Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 17356, Seattle, WA, 98127, the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, 2924 Halibut Pt. Rd, Sitka, AK 99835, or Whatcom Humane Society, 3710 Williamson Way Bellingham, WA 98226.

For those friends and colleagues unable to attend Monday’s funeral mass there will be a celebration of Frank’s life, May of 2013, in Bellingham, WA. Look for information in your local paper for date and time.