THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9605010326
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Helen Rose Roth Pearce, 79, of the 100 block of Mimosa Road, died Monday, April 29, 1996, at her residence.
Mrs. Pearce was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was the daughter of the late Andrew Simon and Katherine Pitonyak Roth. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Paul Walter Pearce, and her firstborn son, Adam. She was also predeceased by her seven brothers, Andrew, Rudolph, Frank, Stephen, John, Anthony, and Joseph Roth. She was a founding member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church. She was also a member of Prince of Peace Grand Group, Prince of Peace Woman's Club, Grassfield Home Demonstration Club, and Grassfield Senior Citizens Club. She was the treasurer of Christ Child Society; she delivered Meals on Wheels; and was a past volunteer with the Chesapeake Health Department. ``Mama Pearce'' nourished her family with her unyielding faith in God as well as her incomparable home-cooked Sunday dinners, which were a long-standing tradition. She also was the mother of two sets of twins.
Survivors include five daughters, Katherine ``Kathy'' Rice and her husband, Tom ``Junior'', of Chesapeake, Helen Erlbeck and her husband, Frank, of Chesapeake, Mari Pearce of Chesapeake, Carolyn Mann and her husband, Wayne, of Suffolk, and Patricia ``Patti'' Pearce of Chesapeake; five sons, Paul P. Pearce and his wife, Jackie, of Chesapeake, James A. Pearce and his wife, Linda, of Sparta, N.J., John F. Pearce and his wife, Anna, of Moonachie, N.J., Joseph Gary ``Cotton'' Pearce and his wife, Emma, of Portsmouth and Patrick ``Buddy'' Pearce and his wife, Sandi, of Chesapeake; three sisters, Annie Olah, Julia Galo, and Mary Vincek, all of Chesapeake; 18 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; her brother-in-law, Elwood Pierce and many nieces and nephews, including a special nephew, Johnnie Pierce Jr. who spent much of his childhood with ``Mama Pearce'' and her children.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Prince of Peace Catholic Church by the Rev. Christian Haydinger. Interment will be in Chesapeake Memorial Gardens. A Christian wake service will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Oman Funeral Home, Great Bridge. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home and after 4 p.m. Wednesday at the home of Mari Pearce, 1334 Cypress Place, in the Greenbrier section of Chesapeake.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB