Kibbey Fishburn Funeral Home

She was born May 9, 1928, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Tony and Mary Varitz.Her childhood was spent in California with her sister, Carolyn, and brother, William.In 1942 the family moved to Oregon, where she graduated from high school in 1946. She attended Pacific University, graduating with a journalism degree in 1950, and met her future husband.She married Dr. Ernest F. Romero on Sept. 6, 1952.They moved to Salida and raised their three children, Claudia, Marguerite and Ernie Jr.Mrs. Romero helped her husband with his optometry practice, was active in the First Presbyterian Church, school accountability committee and PEO, as well as other organizations and committees.After 39 years in Salida, the couple moved to Cañon City in 1993 and then to Grand Junction in 1996.Her husband died in 2000, and a year later Mrs. Romero moved to Loveland to live with her daughter Marguerite.She was a member of PEO Chapter GC, an organization that provides scholarships to support education for women locally and internationally.She loved gardening, cultivating plants (her family said she could take a stick and get it to grow), attending performing arts, watching golf, cooking and visiting friends and family.Friends and family said Mrs. Romero maintained a positive outlook and met challenges head on with optimism. She was a kind person, greeting everyone with a smile, and her appreciation of others was acknowledged with a simple and genuine thank you.They said that in the same way that she cultivated plants, she cultivated friendships and relationships.Mrs. Romero said she lived a good life and was appreciative of all who built each memory.She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sister, Carolyn Leuthold; sister-in-law, Estelle Austin; mother-in-law, Della Romero; and nephew-in-law, Dave Holt.Survivors include her brother, William (Marge) Varitz; daughters, Claudia (Wesley) Jones and Marguerite Romero; son, Ernie Romero; brother-in-law, David Leuthold; nieces, Geri Gerry, Janet Leuthold Holt and Cosette Varitz; nephew, Johnny (Sarah) Leutho... (Mountain Mail Newspaper)