Sheila Marrie Herrera (Roehrich), 68, left us all too soon, passing away in her home on Friday, December 17th, 2021. Sheila was born in Bismarck, North Dakota on September 24th, 1953 to John Leo Roehrich and Anne Elizabeth Roerich. In her final days she was surrounded by, as she very candidly put it on Thursday, “the whole damn gang.” Sheila is survived by her loving husband of 39 years, Steve Herrera and daughters Griffen Herrera and Elizabeth Herrera Knapp (Garrett), as well as her three Grandchildren who were her absolute joy: August “my little buddy” Cherrington, Olivia “li’l O” and Gabrielle “li’l L” Knapp. She precedes her brother Michael Roehrich, as well as many nieces and nephews, several of whom she helped raise. But to say those were her only kids would be a half-truth. Sheila was a second mom to her nephew’s daughters, her husband’s nieces and nephews and Elizabeth’s three best friends, the Castillo girls, who lived down the street. Some of whom even lived under their roof for extended periods.
If you were a child in her world, she had you covered. If you broke it she could fix it (get the glue!), if you soiled it she could clean it (get the baking soda!), if you scraped it she would heal it (get the hydrogen peroxide!), if you tore it she could mend it (get the sewing kit!), if you were hungry for it she’d make it (fried onions coming up!), if you were sick she’d comfort you (get the Vapo rub and Donald Duck OJ)! Plainly, if you were a child - she was there waiting with the light on and something delicious on the stove (or in the snack drawer). But she also loved scary movies so you did well to get to bed or you might end up knowing more about 70’s horror classics than Blues Clues. In a Facebook group dedicated to her high school alums, Sheila reminisced about thanksgiving table arrangements exclaiming, “I loved the Kids table, even sat there in my 20s!” Her capitalizing “kids” tells you everything you need to know about how she felt about all of us.
Sheila’s family moved to Lodi from North Dakota in 1962. Her father John, mother Anne, brother Cleo, sister Patti, and brother Mike packed everything they owned into a 1948 Buick and a 1953 two-tone Chevrolet because as she put it, “Ma wanted a better life for us kids.” John was a master mechanic and knew he could find work in Lodi so they made the three day trek to start their new life and reunite with Grandma and Grandpa. When they arrived little Sheila thought they must be in Hawaii with all the palm trees and sunshine (a place she later visited and lived, The Big Island, for a period of time in the 70’s). She took to life in California as well as any native. In the summers she loved to waterski and swim in the lake. Years later she even dove into a pool fully clothed to save 4-year-old Griffen whose inflatable had overturned. Griffen thought she looked like a golden haired mermaid, entirely forgetting she nearly drowned. Sheila also swam out near the Rancho Seco nuclear power plant (like many teens in those days) but said, “people said I was going to GLOW IN THE DARK!!!!! I never went again.” Sheila stayed in Lodi throughout her school years, having graduated Lodi High School in 1971.
She was introduced to Steve by his sister Monica on the 4th of July 1979. It would be their last independent Independence Day, as It was love at first sight for both, lucky for him. Their courtship included tubing down the Mokulemne River and a short time living together in Redding. On a beautiful sunny day at Lodi Lake she met Steve’s 3 year old daughter. Griffen says, “I must have behaved myself because Steve and Sheila were married on her birthday in 1982”, and they welcomed daughter Elizabeth Anne in November of 1986. Being a mother came very naturally to Sheila and Liz would be the first to tell you she was a great mom. Though we all wish she’d have written down just a few more recipes.
Sheila lost her own mom in 1980 and her heart never fully recovered. If you knew her, you knew how much she loved and constantly missed her “Ma”. Becoming a mother herself seemed to heal that hurt in some ways. She imbued Elizabeth’s childhood with laughter, homemade everything and love, so much love. And the holidays, oh the holidays! So many Birthdays, Easters, Halloweens and Thanksgivings - she hosted as many as could fit at the table. And when we didn’t fit, she had Steve add another table.
In her recent years, Sheila enjoyed helping care for her grandchildren, spending many weeks in Santa Clarita with her Buddy, August, and once her granddaughters came, weekends with Olivia and Gabrielle. She looked forward to sitting on the couch drinking wine and eating popcorn with her daughter Elizabeth, while watching movies and reality TV in Elizabeth’s home. Olivia loved spending time with Grammy making play-doh animals and singing songs. Sheila also enjoyed going to concerts with her loving husband, Steve, and whenever she got the itch, gambling in Jackson to “hit ‘em a lick,” and boy was she lucky. She also loved going camping with her family and made the best menudo on those trips.
Sheila spent her life raising children (her own and all of the many others), teaching them to help take care of each other. Though we are all devastated by her absence, we derive a deep sense of peace from knowing that in her last hours she was headed to be with her Mama, even repeating in her sleep “go to mama”. Her final clear words to her daughters were “I love you” (one for each of us) and “be happy.” And so we shall.
Sheila is preceded in death by her father John Leo Roehrich, mother Anne Elizabeth Rohrich, sister Patricia Smith, brother Cleophes Roehrich, nephews Jeff Ethredge, Marty Ethredge, and Ivan “Loudie” Dimas, and stepson Steven “Chris” Herrera.
SERVICES
Services will be held on January 3rd and 4th as follows:
Visitation on Monday, January 3rd starting at 4:00pm with Rosary to follow from 6:00pm -7:00pm at the Vineyard Chapel - Cherokee Memorial, 14165 N Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.
Mass of Catholic Burial, Tuesday, January 4th at 10:00am, Cathedral of the Annunciation, 400 W Rose St., Stockton, CA 95203. Burial to follow at Cherokee Memorial Cemetery Garden of Angels, 14165 N Beckman Rd., Lodi, CA 95240. Luncheon to follow at Brookside Golf & Country Club, 3603 Saint Andrews Dr., Stockton, Ca 95219
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Herrera family.
