Barbara Ann Romeo

Old Lyme - Barbara Ann (Mather) Romeo, 73, of Old Lyme, beloved wife, mother, sister, and grandmother, passed away on Dec. 27, 2007, at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London.

Barbara was also born at L&M Hospital on Jan. 12, 1934, the daughter of David and Nellie Mather, late of Old Lyme.

Barbara spent her entire life in Old Lyme, never moving more than three miles from her first residence, a fact she often joked about.

On Oct. 2, 1954, she married her high school sweetheart, Armand A. Romeo, with whom she shared 53 years of happiness.

She is survived by her husband and their four loving children, Christopher and wife, Deborah Romeo, of Westford, Mass., Alexander and wife, Patrice Romeo, of Old Lyme, Susan and husband, Robert Malestein, of Bridgeton, N.J., and Leslie and husband, Jeffrey Edmonds, of Cotati, Calif. Barbara and Armand, affectionately known as "Ba" and "Pa" have seven grandchildren, their jewels, Anthony Romeo, Lauren Romeo, Sophia Romeo, Quintin Romeo, Samantha Malestein, Carly Malestein, and Maia Edmonds. Barbara is also survived by her sister, Marilyn (Mather) O'Neil of Mount Holly, Vt., and 18 nieces and nephews.

She was the valedictorian of her 1952 Old Lyme High School class. After getting married and having children, she became very active in school affairs. She was a Youth Services Bureau organizer, Park and Recreation coordinator, chairwoman of the Board of Education, and a 12-year school volunteer. Barbara enjoyed acting as a girls' softball and Farm League baseball coach. She was a den mother, Girl Scout leader, PTO president, and very active in Old Lyme town activities. She was a data processing supervisor, and while raising her children, she enjoyed working part-time as a health care coordinator and bookkeeper.

Of all her interests and loves, she loved her family most.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, at Christ the King Church, Old Lyme. Burial will follow in Duck River Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at the Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, Beckwith Lane, Old Lyme.

To see an online tribute and write a note of condolence to the Romeo family, please visit www.mem.com.