 ROMERO, CAYETANA (TANNA) From the arms of her husband and children, to the lap of her Lord, Tanna Romero passed away on January 19, 2013. She left this world in the same manner in which she lived her life - with dignity, strength, and grace. Tanna was born on March 7, 1936 in Algodones, NM to Jose Manuel and Felipita Garcia. She was born in a small house - part of a humble compound that included aunts, uncles, and many cousins - that had no running water or bathroom and dirt floors. She grew up in the north valley where she attended St. Mary's, later St. Therese, and Valley High School where she would become the school's first football queen. Upon her graduation from high school, her father told her that he could not afford to send her to college. Her mother insisted she "find a way." And she did. She earned a scholarship to the University of New Mexico. From her parents she learned the meanings of love, patience, devotion, tenderness, humility & humor. In 1958, she met her soul mate, Ed Romero. He quickly fell in love with her and told her, "When you fall in love with me, we will get married." Although she would later joke that her proposal was not the most romantic one, she did in fact fall in love with him and married him on October 15, 1958. And thus began their 54 year adventure. While her husband worked and traveled, Tanna raised four children. And as they grew, she began pursuing her own business interests. She started two companies, the Romero Employment Agency and the Romero Credit Collection Agency. Eventually, in 1977, Ed and she started Solar America, Inc. which evolved into Advanced Sciences, Inc. an international company specializing in environmental engineering with offices in eight states, Mexico, and Argentina. Tanna would say that Ed "ran the big picture" while she managed the human resources department of their company. He would say that yes, he did, but only after getting her approval. After they sold their company, they embarked on perhaps their most exciting adventure. She joined her husband in Spain when President Bill Clinton appointed him as U.S. Ambassador to Spain and the first U.S. Ambassador to Andorra. As America's first lady in Spain, she represented her country with great pride and dedication. When people walked through the embassy doors, they were walking into "her home." She declined the State Department's offer to furnish the embassy with loaned art from national galleries. Instead, she brought her favorite pieces from her and Ed's personal New Mexico collection and from other New Mexico museums, bringing a cultural exchange from New Mexico to Spain. She was so proud of her home state. Both in her native New Mexico and her beloved host country of Spain, Tanna served on many boards and volunteered for various organizations including the NM Museum Board of Regents; the National Hispanic Cultural Center; the National Hispanic Arts Endowment Advisory Board; the National Museum of Women's Art in Washington, D.C.; the NM Foster Grandparent Program; Las Amigas de Nuevo Mexico; NM Catholic Foundation; NM Steering Committee; Distinguished Public Services Awards Council; Employment Opportunities for Women and Minorities, Washington, D.C.; U.S. Department of State National Foreign Policy Conference; Cruz Roja, Spain; Mozarabes Penitente Auxiliary, Spain; Santo Sepulcro, Spain; and the American Women's Club, Spain. In 2009, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the NM Commission on the Status of Women, which gave her great pride. In 1997, Tanna fell gravely ill and was not expected to survive. By the grace of God, the love of her family and friends, and an unbelievably talented and dedicated medical team, she survived and focused her remaining years on "making memories." She and Ed traveled the world, she was able to witness the birth of more grandchildren, continued her involvement in Democratic politics, and cheered on her grandchildren from the stands of St. Pius High School and Annunciation Catholic School. She spent her time with the people in her life that made her happy. In her own words, Tanna loved her husband more than anything in the world and above all other persons or things. He was always her best friend. Tanna loved her children above all others, defended them first, never waivered, and loved them unconditionally. She corrected them by telling them the truth, hoping they learned to face their own failings through their mistakes and praying they found their own solutions. She taught her children by example and did her best to make them proud of their mother. She taught them to stay true to their Catholic faith and be defenders of their church. Tanna achieved what she was sent to do by successfully being the finest example of a mother and grandmother. She made her children and grandchildren intensely proud of her. She is survived by her beloved husband, Ed Romero; her four devoted children, Christina Romero, Edward Steven Romero and wife Maria Jose (Pepa); Ruth Romero Sneddon and husband Stephen; and Anna Romero Harrod and husband Peter; her twelve grandchildren: Edward Adam Romero, Andrea Lopez-Guerra, Camila Lopez-Guerra, Jose Nicolas Lopez-Guerra, Sarah Terese Sneddon, Elizabeth Anne Sneddon, Alexandra Cayetana Salazar, Gabriela Rose Harrod, Cristina Corrine Salazar, Samantha Faith Harrod, Edward Cayetano Romero Oliver, and Maria del Carmen Romero Oliver; her brothers Roberto Garcia and wife Jane, and Phillip Garcia and wife Anita and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Jose Manuel and Felipita Garcia, her father and mother-in-law Isaac and Ramona Romero, and her son-in-law Jose Lopez-Guerra. To quote one of her closest friends, "Not bad for a little girl from Algodones." Pallbearers are Peter E. Harrod, Stephen M. Sneddon, Adam Romero, Nicolas Lopez-Guerra, Johnathan Murphy, Greg Young, Turner Branch, and Jim Griffin. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 12500 Carmel Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. with Bishop Arturo Tafoya officiating. Co-Celebrants will be Father Michael Shea and Mgsr Sipio Salas with Father Paul Baca in attendance. Private internment will follow the Mass. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Prince of Peace Church designating St. Vincent de Paul or Maryknoll Fathers.
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