Cheryl Lynn Roche (nee Bryshun)

Cheryl passed away peacefully at Victoria Hospice on May 26th, 2017, at the age of 53. Predeceased by her mother and best friend Kathleen, her father Michael, and her brother Rob, she will live on through her loving husband Tony, her adoring sons John and David, and her brothers David and James. A celebration of life will be held at the Esquimalt Legion on Sunday, June 4th at 3pm.

Rainer Maria Rilke wrote: “For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks, the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation.” Perhaps the most amazing thing about Cheryl was that while most of us must struggle and strain to move beyond ourselves and love, it came completely naturally to her. Whether it was spending the day with a lonely senior, taking a third job to support her ailing mother, or dancing all night to the deafening music of teenagers in her basement, love seemed to come as spontaneously and naturally to her as breathing.

The doctors and nurses on the cancer ward were astonished by her capacity for optimism and kindness even while her body was being ravaged by chemotherapy and cancer. Her very last words were to ask how her family was doing, what she could do to help, and to tell those around her that she loved them.

Living in a world as harsh as ours, we are all faced with the choice of whether to close ourselves off behind protective walls, or to love openly and vulnerably, no matter the cost. If Cheryl had known ahead of time that the cost of her inexhaustible kindness, sweetness, and generosity would be an early death, she would not have hesitated to pay the price.

That we will all die is beyond our control. All we can control is whether or not we live and die with grace, beauty, and courage. In that, Cheryl did not lose her battle with cancer. In that, she was utterly, astonishingly victorious.

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Condolence Messages

  1. Thinking of you and your family at this sad time

    • Greg and jolyn york

      Our thoughts and prayers go out to tony and the boys she was truly and inspiration to everyone who knew her .She was a very thoughtful, kind and a peace maker I will dearly miss my special cousin rest in peace Cheryl. Love ❤️ jolyn Greg Alicia TAYLIA.????❤️????????

  2. Mark and Diane Medd

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very sad time.

  3. Mark and Diane Medd

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very sad time

  4. Thinking of you, John along with your father and brother
    at this very difficult time.
    Sending my condolences and wishes for strength.

    “Grief is the price we pay for love.”
    Quote by HRH Queen Elizabeth II

  5. Tony my friend, I was so sad to hear of Cheryl’s passing. Tracy and I would like to offer our condolences to you and your family. Our thoughts are with you now and in the future.

  6. Mitchell Weare

    To our dear friend Tony and your family, our deepest condolences. Cheryl touched a lot of hearts with her beautiful soul, which will live on forever in ours.

  7. Bruce and Sandra Crowe

    Tony, John and David
    Very sorry to hear of Cheryl’s passing. We remember Cheryl very well from the days around the ball park. Always smiling. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers .

  8. Patti & John Wingert

    John & I are so sad to hear of Cheryl’s passing. She truly was an amazing person, full of such love, kindness, & strength! Our love & prayers go out to all of you! I feel sad, but then it goes away, thinking she is now with her darling mother Kathy, whom she loved so very much!❤️ RIP dear sweet Cheryl

  9. Michelle Dowell

    like i said ill never forget what she did for me when i needed support, she took me in when I needed a home , gave me peace and always assured me I was welcome. My prayers go out to all who knew and loved her just as much as I did.

  10. Roxanne Brown

    Rest in peace sweet angel, ????

  11. Rosemin Keshvani

    My thoughts and prayers are with you Tony and your family. As a child, we shared every day before and after school at Oakmount Ave. Cheryl was special and full of courage even then. Amazing, good at everything, kind, generous and absolutely loved by everyone. She was a gift in my life and I will always love and remember her. With love from London, England

  12. To Tony and Family, only briefly did have the pleasure of knowing Cheryl, working at the $ store in esqimalt, Cheryl would come to the store with her little dog Buster and simply make my day. Cheryl was so friendly and easy to talk to and she will be greatly missed, my condolences to the Family and Friends of Cheryl.

  13. John & Penny Gardner

    Dear Tony, John & David
    So sad to hear of Cheryl’s passing. There are no words that will comfort you, just know you are loved. Cheryl was beautiful on every level ❤️

  14. John & Penny Gardner

    Dear Tony, John & David
    So sad to hear of Cheryl’s passing. There are no words that will comfort you, just know you are loved. Cheryl was beautiful on every level ❤️

  15. My big little sis. all the words and posts in the world can never say how wonderful you made so many others days and lives. You are the only bryshun family member who I ever seen show campassion to fellow family, somthing very much missing in that family name, but you broke out of that and really cared, at a level this world does not get enough of. You are so strong and you shine as bright as ever sis. i love you and thank you for the time me you rob dad and as many of us that were together in earlier years. my condolences to your family left behind. see you in a bit sis.

  16. My sincere sympathy to John and his family. I am so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. Take care in these days ahead and rest in the memories of a beloved mom.

  17. Pamela A. Loughton

    John and family …

    Recently it has been brought to my attention that heaven may be found in how our loved ones hold us up and carry us with them when we are gone. I have followed John and David’s posts after learning that their beloved mother’s illness had progressed. It seems to me – that Cheryl is being well carried and most certainly is experiencing heaven in the special love you have all demonstrated for her living and her contribution to your lives. Peace to you all and to your beloved matriarch. Blessed be.

  18. John,
    I am so sorry to hear about that your mother passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in difficult time. I pray that your sorrow would be comforted by His presence. Take Care…..

  19. John,
    I do not know what to tell you when I heard that your mother passed away.
    Living and dying is natural law, but the beloved one went away is very sad and difficult. My prayers and thoughts would comfort you in this time. Also, I pray that God’s peace would be upon your grief.

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