Janie Hester Romero's Obituary
God saw you breathlessly labored and a cure was not to be, so he put his arms around you and softly whispered “come with me.” With tearful eyes we watched you slowly fade away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A beautiful and compassionate heart stop beating, your loving hands put to rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best.
On Saturday, July 6, 2024, Janie Hester Romero, passed peacefully from this life in Covington, Louisiana at the age of 81 surrounded by her family to be with our Heavenly Father. She was born on June 22, 1943, in Hamburg, Mississippi. She was preceded in death by her parents, Spencer James Hester and Bessie Ruth Hester and her brother Larry Hester. She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Lee J. Romero, Jr.; children Lee Jay Romero lll and his wife Sandy, and Christopher Spencer Romero and wife Dana; grandchildren Spencer Romero, Leigha Romero Lumley, Katherine Romero, Nathan Romero and Chase Romero; great grandchild Beckham Smith.
Janie graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1960 at the age of 16, attended Louisiana State University for two years and transferred to University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies. Her vocational interests were diverse beginning as an elementary teacher in Jefferson Parish before working for the Louisiana Department of Social Services in St. Charles and St. Bernard Parishes, the last being the most demanding involving abused children. She willingly and eagerly volunteered her time to school activities at St. Francis Cabrini Elementary School and Brother Martin High School. Janie served in a fund raising capacity for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation for years and was a Louisiana delegate to the International Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Convention in Toronto, Canada in 1981. She also devoted endless hours to the family support program of the 377th TAACOM Army Reserve unit as a Family Support Coordinator in resolution of issues affecting soldiers of the reserve unit. She was extremely proud of her work in the family support organization for which she received numerous achievement awards. In 1998, Janie and her family moved to rural St. Tammany Parish where she envisioned and directed the construction of the family home. Janie was a parishioner of St. Jane de Chantal Catholic Church and St. Michael the Archangel Mission in Bush, Louisiana. She was the loving matriarch of the Romero family, dedicating her life to her family and providing guidance, advice and counsel to her whole family. Janie was a cherished wife and a treasured loving Mother. She was a true friend to all who knew her and never met a stranger. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild were truly the light of her life and she loved them beyond measure. She enjoyed attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and was an avid LSU Tigers fan for every sport and enjoyed watching the New Orleans Saints win any games.
Relatives and friends are invited to the memorial services and Funeral Mass at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, Louisiana on Friday, July 12, 2024 at 1:00 PM with visitation from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm, when Mass will commence. Interment will be on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 11:30 am at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hamburg, Mississippi. Please share a memory, thoughts and condolences on the Tribute Wall at www.ejfielding.com.
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