St. Roch Cemetery

Bywater-Marigny New Orleans

Historic Homes for the Dead 

      St. Roch Cemetery was founded by Reverend P.L. Thevis in 1874. During one of New Orleans’ Yellow Fever outbreaks, the patron saint of protection from epidemics, Saint Roch, was prayed to and was asked to protect the people of New Orleans during this epidemic. When nobody from the Reverend’s Church died of Yellow Fever, Thevis founded this Cemetery, as part of his promise to Saint Roch. He promised that if Saint Roch would keep his people safe, he would build a chapel to Saint Roch. This Chapel is now inside of St. Roch Cemetery.