James "Jim" C. Romano and Mrs. Gail A. Romano

Obituary for Mr. James "Jim" C. Romano and Mrs. Gail A. Romano
January 11, 2021
Woburn, Massachusetts

A Loving and Beautiful couple, wonderful parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and friends.

James C. Romano of Woburn, MA and Lady Lake, FL - Surrounded by his wife and children, James "Jim" Romano, passed away due to complications of COVID-19 on January 11, 2021 at the age of eighty-six.

Born in 1934, James was the 4th child of the late Joseph and Florence (Todesca) Romano. He was a longtime resident of Woburn, an athlete and a 1952 graduate of Woburn Memorial High School.

Jim proudly served as Sergeant in the U.S. Army for 8 years from 1954 to 1962 and was an expert in morse code and in intercepting enemy communication during the Korean War effort. He attended Merrimack College and began his career at Arthur D. Little where he met the love of his life and best friend, Gail P. Achstetter. They married in 1964 and had been together for 56 years. Jim retired from employment at Polaroid Corporation after 29 years.

Jim was a "Tanner" athlete, playing baseball and football in his youth, and remained active later in his life while bowling, playing tennis and golfing. After retirement, he would split his time between Woburn, MA and Lady Lake, FL where he continued to perfect his golf game, even accomplishing multiple holes-in-one. When Jim wasn't golfing he enjoyed a daily routine of drinking his morning coffee, doing any kind of puzzle, building metal and wood models, going to happy hour and just simply relaxing in his lanai. Jim thoroughly enjoyed his retirement home and was one of the best golf cart tour guides. He especially loved viewing the large water tower that displayed a heart in the evening light which is symbolic of how full his heart was for his family. He could strike up a conversation with anyone, young or old, and walk away with a new best friend. Jim was also a devoted Red Sox and Patriots fan.

Family was the centerpiece of Jim's life. He was the loving father of Kimberly Provo and her husband Michael Sr. of Woburn, Kyle Romano and his wife Susan of Burlington, Keri Romano-Campbell and her husband Alexander of Medfield, Kurt Romano and his wife Daria of Revere, Kendra Carpenter and her husband William of Woburn, Kenan Romano and his wife Kelly of Plymouth and Kristen Nguyen and her husband Thong of Holliston.

In addition to his children and Gail, the other greatest treasures in his life were his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was the adoring grandfather of Lake and his wife Eden, Faith, Gail, Michael, Grace, Nicholas, Noelle, Russell, Grenne, Alexander, Jason, Lindsey, Katherine, Justin, Joshua, Elin and Rielle and the great-grandfather of Audrey, and Emelia and the late Noah.

He also leaves behind his dear siblings; Katherine MacDermott of Wakefield, Florence Tully of Woburn, Benjamin Romano of Hampstead, NH, the late Mae Glennon and the late Joseph Romano.
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He will be sorely missed by his immediate family, in-laws, nieces, nephews and the countless friends and neighbors who were fortunate enough to have spent time in his presence.

Mrs. Gail A. Romano

Gail A. Romano passed away on February 21, 2021 from a brain hemorrhage at the age of 78 surrounded by her loving family. She joins her husband, James C. Romano, who passed away on January 11, 2021, in eternal heavenly love.

Gail was born on July 2, 1942 and was the eldest child of the late Charles and Ruth (Daly) Achstetter. She grew up in Arlington, MA and was a graduate of the Class of 1960. She attended Katharine Gibbs School in Boston, MA and worked at Arthur D. Little where she met the love of her life, Jim, at the age of 21. She married Jim on August 22, 1964 and they lived and raised their seven children in Woburn, MA.

As the matriarch of the Romano family, Gail took pleasure in cooking and baking and was an incredible host at her large family gatherings. She was an extremely selfless and caring person and was her family's biggest cheerleader. She happily attended her children's favorite activities and later on in life never missed out on the opportunity to take part in the same for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a genuine soul who never forgot a birthday, an anniversary or a special occasion of friends and family. Her pastimes included knitting, clothing-making and creating dolls to gift to new family members and friends. She took great pride in dressing meticulously for her weekly trips to Mass and for her date nights with Jim. She worked as a pharmacy technician for many years at both Osco Drug and Medical East where she was a familiar face in town. She loved sharing her time between MA and FL and always remained active while enjoying line-dancing, clogging, bowling, playing tennis and golfing. Gail was fond of traveling and felt most comfortable with the sun shining brightly on her face.

She was the adoring mother of Kimberly Provo and her husband Michael Sr. of Woburn, Kyle Romano and his wife Susan of Burlington, Keri Romano-Campbell and her husband Alexander of Medfield, Kurt Romano and his wife Daria of Revere, Kendra Carpenter and her husband William of Woburn, Kenan Romano and his wife Kelly of Plymouth and Kristen Nguyen and her husband Thong of Holliston. In addition to her children and Jim, the other blessings in her life were her grandchildren and great- grandchildren. She was the adoring grandmother of Lake and his wife Eden, Faith, Gail, Michael, Grace, Nicholas, Noelle, Russell, Grenne, Alexander, Jason, Lindsey, Katherine, William, Justin, Joshua, Elin and Rielle and the great-grandmother of Audrey, Emelia and the late Noah.
She also leaves behind her dear siblings, C. Richard Achstetter of Bourne, MA and Lindsey O'Leary of Sagamore Beach, MA.

She will be sorely missed by her entire family and the countless friends and neighbors who were fortunate enough to have known her and have been impacted by her kindness.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a Funeral Mass Celebrating Jim and Gail's Eternal Life at St. Barbara's Church 138 Cambridge Road Woburn Saturday July 10th at 10 am.