Claudia Decker Roche

Claudia Decker Roche, age 89, formerly of Alta Loma, California, most recently of The Terraces at Via Verde, a memory care facility in San Dimas, died peacefully, due to complications related to dementia, on December 8, 2025. Although she was a world traveler, during the last years of her life she spoke often of wanting to go home. Her desires have been fulfilled as she has now made her final journey to her forever home in the embrace of her loving God.

Claudia was born on May 28, 1936, in Staten Island, New York. She was the daughter of the late Henry P. and Jessie Traulsen. She was a member of the 1954 graduating class of Gilboa High School, Gilboa, New York.

The day after her graduation, she married Roland Vonderheide, who would become the father of her children. A few months later, they moved to southern California. She adopted the state and made it her permanent residence. During the course of her long and rewarding life, she married three times. She loved each of her husbands and appreciated their unique qualities and distinct personalities. She was deeply devoted to her three children and six grandchildren. Besides spending time with them, she especially enjoyed talking about their accomplishments. She did not have the opportunity of pursuing higher education, so she took great pride that all three of her children were college graduates, while several of her grandchildren attended prestigious schools and attained advanced degrees.

Even as a young girl, Claudia was full of wanderlust. In her early forties, she planned a vacation to the midwest for herself and a couple of her friends. So satisfying was that experience that she began to create more elaborate trips. Eventually, she visited all fifty states. Some years later, she accepted the role as the tour director for the Upland Travelers Club, an organization with several hundred members. For over twenty years, she scheduled their trips, from day-long outings to multi-day adventures across the country. When she stepped down from her position in 2018, she was honored with the title Tour Director Emeritus. When she was not leading a guided tour, she traveled on her own, exploring new places and making new friends, while visiting many countries. Her favorite trips were the ones when she invited a family member to join her so that she could share with them the beauty of our world.

As a fellow traveler, Claudia felt compassion for others who struggled with difficulties during their journeys. So, she joined the Travelers Aid of the Inland Empire, helping at the information desk at the Ontario International Airport. During her fifteen plus years of service, she received several commendations for her assistance, including Volunteer of the Year in 2013. She was also a regular volunteer in the gift shop at San Antonio Regional Hospital, totaling more than 5,000 hours during her tenure. There were other organizations that were blessed with her enthusiasm and friendliness, such as the Montclair Walkers. She delighted to participate in their annual performances at the Golden Follies Talent Showcase.

Before Claudia became a dedicated volunteer, she had a career as a grocery cashier. She worked for a few different stores in the area, but mainly at the Market Basket in Ontario. For twenty years, she cultivated customer care and efficiency at her job. As a result, returning shoppers would purposely choose her lane at the checkout area. She would greet them by name and ask about updates on their lives and families.

It was her faith that sustained Claudia and guided her throughout her life. As a teenager, while attending an afterschool Christian youth group, she was introduced to the gospel. It was at that time, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. As an adult she was a member of a few different churches, including Ontario First Baptist, Alta Loma Community, Upland Foursquare, Upland Free Methodist, First Presbyterian of Upland, and Upland Brethren in Christ. Most recently, she was attending Remedy Church of Rancho Cucamonga. At each of these communities of believers, she found fellowship and ways to serve, whether working with women’s ministries, children’s church or teaching Sunday school. Her love for God and others extended beyond the walls of the church. She opened her home to people from all walks of life, whether to host dinners or parties or to invite someone in need to stay a few days or several months.

In addition to her parents, Claudia was preceded by her husbands: Roland Vonderheide, Robert “Captain Bob” Decker, and Bryce “Peter” Roche; her granddaughter Alicia Phillips; and her siblings: Joan Proudman, Henry F. Traulsen, Jessie Garringer, and Martin Traulsen.

Claudia is survived by her children: Dawn (Warren) Vonderheide Herr of Pasadena, CA, Glen Vonderheide of Bradley, CA, and Scott (Cathy) Vonderheide of Alfred, NY; her grandchildren: Samuel (Diana) Vonderheide, Jessica (Juan) Lopez, Leah (Joshua Voorhees) Vonderheide, Mariam (Jacob) Pincus, and Joshua Liem; her great-grandchildren: Emery, Berkeley, Jaime, and Jorge; her sister Terry (Eugene) Robillard of Apollo Beach, FL; she is also survived by her beloved niece Lisa (Mark) Szpyrka of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and their children Hannah (Christopher) Esparza and Nathanael (Marikate) Szpyrka; along with many other nieces and nephews, including Lilianna and Levi.

The memorial service will be live-streamed during the scheduled time, December 30, becoming active at 2:20 pm. It will be available for recorded viewing afterwards for one year. When it's time to view the service, please copy and paste the blue text below into your web browser and tab enter: streaming.forestlawn.com/07d1be1d