Fine Arts
Elizabeth Placencio, 42
Died February 15, 2021.
Mesa Middle School, Las Cruces, NM
Film and Broadcast, Librarian
The Mesa Middle School community is grieving the loss of one of its founding teachers who died on Monday.
Elizabeth Placencio, a 42-year-old media teacher at Mesa Middle School, passed away after spending nearly a month in the hospital battling COVID-19.
Placencio was a teacher with LCPS for more than 20 years, teaching film and broadcast at Mesa Middle since the school opened in 2010.
“She was the example and model teacher for our young teachers and veteran teachers because of her giving heart, she never thought about herself,” said Mesa Middle School Principal Steve Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said that Placencio was among the few remaining staff members who had been with Mesa since its founding.
“The culture that … our staff have created Mesa is a family culture,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not a weakness that we have that family culture at our school. But it definitely makes it hard to lose any of our staff … but it’s also our strength, because it’s what’s going to get us through this and knowing that she would want us all to continue with what we’re doing at our school.”
Placencio also recently became the school’s librarian as well as the media teacher.
Charlene Ortega, who teaches computer science at Mesa Middle, was Placencio’s friend for the past decade. Ortega said she has fond memories of Placencio working on fundraisers for the school, collaborating with club activities and volunteering at school dances.
“She just had this energy about her,” Ortega said. “(She was a) helpful, giving person …. At the end of the day, we would just look at each other, we were tired, we were exhausted …. Everything that we did it was … for the school and for the kids.”
Placencio built the school’s media production course from the ground up, giving students at Mesa Middle the opportunity to compete in Student Television Network, a national competition for school broadcast.
“She worked tirelessly,” said Casey Blazer, a physical education teacher at Mesa and friend of Placencio. “She made things happen for (her students) that they might not ever get another opportunity to do. She just always went above and beyond.”
Ben Serrano, a former media teacher at Mesa Middle said that the school will always remember Placencio and what she’s done for the community. He said he’s received messages from former students saying how much they were impacted by Placencio.
He encouraged any students or community members to reach out so everyone can support each other through this loss.
“She was one of our pillars that kept our community together, and was always visible for anybody, and available for them,” Serrano said. “We’re just taking it day by day now. She’s always gonna be a big part of Mesa Middle School, and a big part of our lives in general.”
Serrano and Rodriguez both fondly remember pranks they pulled on Placencio throughout the years, saying she was always a good sport and joking around.
“Her laugh was contagious,” Rodriguez said. “She brought joy to our school.”
The two also started a Go Fund Me to raise money for the Placencio family. Search for “Eliabeth Placencio” at gofundme.com to learn more.
Placencio is survived by her husband and daughter.
“We just want everybody to know what kind of person that she was, and how much she meant to everybody,” Blazer said. “She was a good friend, she was a good mom, a great wife, a daughter. She just was a magnificent person all around.”
Placencio is the fifth educator in the district who has passed due to COVID-19.
Laurel Rose Swing, 50
Died December 10, 2020.
Lakewood Park Christian School, Auburn, IN
Fine Arts
LAUREL “LAURI” ROSE SWING, 50, passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, in Fort Wayne due to complications from COVID-19. Born in Wina -mac, Ind., she was a daughter of the late, George Erb, and Elaine Erb of Fort Wayne, who survives. Lauri worked as a teacher her entire career, beginning with East Allen County Schools, then committing her life to teaching her four children at home, and most recently with Lakewood Park Christian School in the Fine Arts Department. She was a member of Westwood Fellowship Church of Woodburn.
Lauri is survived by her husband, Lynn Swing, of Woodburn, Ind.; children, Andrew (Naomi) Swing of Fort Wayne, Caleb (Ember) Swing of Upland, Ind., Bryce Swing of Woodburn, Ind., and Cassie Swing of Woodburn, Ind.; one-granddaughter, Eleanor; siblings, Kent (Bobbi) Erb, Gary (Cheryl) Erb, Cheri (Cecil) Delph, Mike (Lisa) Earley, John (Becky) Earley, and Kevin Earley.
Private family services will be held at Westwood Fellowship on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. Burial at Woodburn Evangelical Mennonite Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Miracle Camp and Retreat Center of Lawton, Mich., Lakewood Park Christian School Fine Arts Department, or Westwood Fellowship.
Melinda Roellig, 37
Died November 15, 2020.
Rock Creek Community Academy, Sellersburg, IN
Fine Arts
Melinda Joyce Roellig (Ms. R), 37, avid musician, artist and a beloved educator in Indiana for nearly 15 years. She passed unexpectedly on November 15, 2020 in Clarksville, Indiana. Her memorial service will be held at a later date.
Melinda Roellig was born on December 6, 1982 in Greenock, Strathclyde, Scotland while her father, James Roellig was stationed abroad. She later grew up in Indiana where she went on to earn her Undergraduate and Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Louisville. Melinda was a part of her high school and college marching band and a member of Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity and Tau Beta Sigma Sorority. Melinda served as a fine arts educator at Rock Creek Community Academy, she was also a member in the IUS Community Band where she was mentored by Phil Thomas.
Melinda touched the lives of many and leaves behind a legacy of creativity, inspiration and kindness. She was the kind of person everyone loved and she always knew the right words to say. She would often quote lines from Harry Potter and during this time of sadness she would have chosen this quote; “But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”– Albus Dumbledore
She is survived by her Mom Victoria Straub, Step-Father Ed Straub, Father James Roellig, Step-Mother Georgia Roellig, Brother Eric Roellig, Sister-in-law Natalie Roellig, beloved Nieces Marlee and Maycee Roellig, her little sister Alexandra (Ace) Roellig, Aunt Cindy Regen, Uncle Paul Grant, Aunt Kimberly Annuziata, Uncle Dr. Micheal Aunnuziata, Uncle Bill and Larry Roellig, special friend Tim Tatum, beloved dogs and several other family members, close friends and her students.
Mary Ward, 53
Died November 6, 2020.
Capitol Encore Academy, Fayetteville, NC
Fine Arts
Mary Margaret Mollica-Ward, 53, of Fayetteville NC passed away Friday November 6, 2020 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center after a brief illness.
Mary was born February 15, 1967 in Syracuse NY. She attended Jamesville Dewitt high school graduating in 1985. She obtained her Associates Degree from SUNY Mohawk Valley and then went on to complete her education at LeMoyne College graduating with a Bachelors’ Degree. Mary resided in the Syracuse area for the majority of her life making lifelong friends and sharing her artistry and love with so many. She moved to Fayetteville NC in 2017.
She found her joy in an art teaching position at Capitol Encore Academy where she was involved with a prayer group among her fellow teachers. Mary loved working with her students and admiring art, especially the works of Frida Kahlo. Mary would ask her students to “live on through their art and continue to pursue their dreams”.
She was a faithful member of Manna Church where she enjoyed worshipping and serving with the congregation. No matter the challenges she faced, Mary always found the time to help others and lift them up in her prayers. She will be remembered as a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother (Lolli), daughter, and sister whose smile lit up every room and her creativity and artistry was reflected in every aspect of her life.
Mary is survived by her loving husband, Jerry Ward; her son Joshua Ward (Kirsten Tegtmeyer); her daughters Kaitlyn Ward (Brent Lowery) and Hannah Robbins (Dalton Robbins); her grandson Liam Ward; her parents Kathy and Barry Silvers; her brother Dominick Mollica (Laura Mollica) & their son Christian, her sister Michelle Mollica; step sisters Sara Willis, Susan Warren, several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and her beloved dog Mugs. She was predeceased by her father, Benjamin Mollica, as well as paternal and maternal grandparents.