Audrey Mary Janice Romero

Audrey Mary Janice Romero, our beautiful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on October 14, 2024.
Audrey was born October 2, 1942, in Acushnet, Massachusetts to Romeo Genard and Muriel (Seguin) Genard. Audrey grew up in New Bedford, MA, the eldest child with two younger brothers, Romeo "Gino" and Gary, and extended family. She loved owls and the color purple, and she was a great dancer-once even winning a dance competition.
Audrey was a mother to seven children with her then-husband Augusto "Romy" Romero. Romy served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years-or as military families know well, the whole family served. Although they lived many places during military service, they settled in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Audrey raised their children while her husband was deployed for long lengths of time. She taught her children to laugh, love and help each other. Her children remain close today, and talk and laugh daily on a family text string.
Audrey was artistic and creative. She loved the arts and things of beauty. She enjoyed singing, painting, and crafts and even dabbled in pottery. She was well-read, educated, and liked to learn new things. In her 40s, she went back to school, and earned her college degrees in education and art, including a master's degree in fine arts from Norfolk State University, and was in the Who's Who of American Universities. She would go on to teach art to elementary and middle school students in Virginia and Utah. She felt fulfilled showing children how to express themselves through art. She would also spend hours in museums, mesmerized by the beauty in brushstrokes or the way colors came together.
A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), Audrey served many volunteer roles in her church. Her faith was strong, and the gospel served as a guiding light and source of happiness. She believed in the beauty of the hereafter, and was sealed for eternity to her family in the LDS temple near Washington, D.C. She devoted herself to genealogy, tracing her family tree, and traveling to cemeteries and local registries to find information to put family histories together.
A lifelong reader, Audrey was often found with a book. Libraries got used to Audrey checking out stacks of books up to the library's limit. She would lose herself in stories of all kinds, particularly romance and science fiction. Given her belief that a wonderful afterlife awaits all of us, her children hope that she has now embarked on a wonderful new chapter.
Audrey is preceded in death by her brother Romeo ("Gino") Genard, and her parents Romeo and Muriel Genard. She is survived by her seven children, Jody Romero, Scott Romero, Christy Goldsmith Romero, Channette Romero, Andienne Bradley, Serena Romero, and Dea Woolard. She is also survived by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to recognize the care and support of her children Andienne Bradley and Serena Romero, who helped so much in Audrey's later years. The family also wishes to recognize the caring team at the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), the Rosemont Health and Rehab Center, members of her church, and so many others who helped her.
The family will host a memorial service on October 26, 2024, at 10:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2397 Newstead Dr., Virginia Beach, VA, 23454. As Audrey's favorite color was purple, the family invites everyone to wear purple to the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association to help find a cure. She will be buried at Colonial Grove Memorial Park, Virginia Beach, VA.
In honor of Audrey, we ask that you take the time to read a good book, or donate a book to a child in need, to share in her love of a great story.