Eileen Romeo

Eileen Nancy (Betza) Romeo, 73, of Erie, PA, passed away peacefully with her family by her side at St. Vincent Hospital on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. She was born in Erie on November 27, 1950, the oldest daughter of the late George and Nancy Betza.

Eileen attended St. Mary's for grade school and St. Benedict Academy for high school, where she made lifelong friends. After high school, she immediately entered the workforce and proudly purchased her Dodge Dart Swinger. Little did she know that "bugging State Street" would lead to her meeting the love of her life.

Eileen met Frank, and they instantly fell in love. Their love story continued when they were married on August 7, 1971, at Saints Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Erie. They celebrated their honeymoon in Southern Italy, where Frank had immigrated from. Eileen was instantly welcomed by her new family, and it was a bond that was never broken. Family meant everything to Eileen. She loved raising her three children and enjoyed the spoils of being a grandmother. She cherished her many relatives on both sides of the family, her Belmont Avenue neighbors, and the many friends she made throughout her lifetime. To know Eileen was to love Eileen. She made everyone she encountered feel welcomed, heard, and cared for. She was the kindest and most generous person. She loved to laugh. She loved to read. She loved life and all its beauty. Eileen was truly a servant of God and a parishioner at Saints Peter and Paul Church.

Frank and Eileen's marriage was a testament to their love. They always treated each other with kindness, love, and respect. Through wonderful times and through difficult times, the love that Frank and Eileen shared never wavered. This showcase of love, commitment, and respect was instilled in their three children.

Eileen was a wonderful mother who loved her children unconditionally and deeply. She was there to offer support, impart her wisdom, to talk, and to listen. As a grandmother, Eileen was the best babysitter, the best foot massager, the best storyteller, the best play date, and the best cook to her five grandchildren. These memories will forever be engrained in their hearts and minds.

Survivors include her beloved and devoted husband of 52 years, Frank A. Romeo; her son Michael and wife Dawn, and grandchildren Gino and Gianna Romeo of Erie; her son Philip and wife Danielle, and grandchildren George and Elianna Romeo of Braintree, MA; and her daughter Nancy and husband Michael, and granddaughter Finola McMahan of Erie; her sister and brother-in-law Lillian and Robert Plonski and their children; along with Frank's family in Italy, France, and Canada and the many Romeo and Betza relatives in Erie and throughout the United States.

The family would like to extend our deepest thanks to all the doctors, nurses, and other medical staff that took care of Eileen during her time at St. Vincent Hospital. May God continue to bless you all.

Eileen will be forever loved, and her memory will be eternal.

Family and friends may call on Friday, June 7, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, and are invited attend a prayer service there on Saturday, June 8 at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Funeral Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, 3415 Wallace Street, Erie, PA 16504. The Funeral Divine Liturgy will be livestreamed online at www.facebook.com/orlandofuneralhome. The burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church.