Rosemarie S. Laque

Rosemarie Serio Laque, who passed away on July 29, 2022, was a music teacher, choir director, catechist, and classroom teacher at St. Louis Catholic School and Church in Alexandria, VA for more than 50 years. But above all, she was a devoted wife and mother, who taught her children – and at least three generations of area children – the importance of their Catholic faith, and love of Jesus and His Mother Mary. Under her direction, the children’s choir at St. Louis dominated various competitions at Busch Gardens and/or Hershey Park from 1995 until she retired in 2009, and in the 1990s she had the honor of representing the Arlington Diocese at a Vatican conference for choirs. She also directed an award-winning Schola. When Mrs. Laque retired from St. Louis, the School dedicated the music room to the woman who had taught children there for so many years. At various times throughout her 93 years, Mrs. Laque formed myriad children’s choirs and a Girl Scout Glee Club, taught 4th grade at Queen of the Apostles school in Alexandria, Va., and even won the grand prize at the Canoe Carnival in Medford Lakes, N.J. for her Glee Club float. In her younger years, Mrs. Laque performed in various dramatic productions, directed children in school plays, and even served as a Candy Striper during World War II. Generations of children and adults were touched by this angel, who was a daily communicant and Eucharistic Minister, and some went on to a variety of distinguished careers at least partly as a result of her example and influence. This includes the Secretary General of a major order who calls Mrs. Laque her “spiritual mother.” An Auxiliary Bishop of a major archdiocese said she is an “example of how to live the faith in life and in death.” Born the youngest of three children in Baltimore, Md. on Jan. 27, 1929, Mrs. Laque was awarded a Master of Music degree from The Catholic University of America in 1979 and a BA in Music from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in 1950. She is survived by Michelle Laque Johnson of Moody, Alabama; Yvonne Laque and her husband Steve Schneider of Alexandria, Virginia; Larry (Kelly) Laque of Knoxville, TN; and her son-in-law Mike Frentz as well as six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by Wilton Lawrence Laque III, her husband of 37 years, and her daughter Marian Laque (Mike) Frentz. Visitation from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, August 7, at Everly Wheatley Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA 22303, with a prayer service at 3:30 p.m. Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 8. Reception, following the burial, at St. Louis Catholic Church, 2907 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA. 22306

A link to the live stream of the funeral mass can be found below.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rosemarie S. Laque, please visit our floral store.