All they knew was their much-loved 70-year-old mother and grandmother was visiting an acquaintance at the Metlifecare Coastal Villas Retirement Village in Raumati Village.
Roderique was kind-hearted and would "give someone the shirt of her back", the family member said.
Roderique was an accomplished dancer and well-known in dance circles on the Kāpiti Coast.
They heard through news reports of a death at the village, but it wasn't until family saw police walking through the front gate that their worst fears were realised.
They hadn't even been able to discuss funeral arrangement as the news of her death was still too raw.
"It's going to take time. We just want to be left alone to grieve," he said.
They weren't aware of any further details surrounding the murder, only that the accused had been charged and was given name suppression.
Police handling the case had done a great job and the support they had received from victim support representatives was appreciated, he said.
Police have arrested and charged a 75-year-old man with the woman's murder. He appeared in Porirua District Court today and entered no plea.
It was understood that the accused man, who has name suppression, had mental health issues.
Metlife Care chief executive Glen Sowry said they were offering support to staff and residents at Coastal Villas.
"Since the tragic event unfolded yesterday, Metlife Care has had a number of senior members of the team down at Coastal Villas supporting residents and staff on site," he said.
"That continues today and will do so until such a time as we're comfortable that our residents and staff are dealing with this terribly sad situation."
The man appeared in court this morning but entered no plea.
