Sister Louise Romero, OSF
Sister Louise Romero, 95, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, Minnesota, died at Assisi Heights on Friday, December 29, 2023.
Mary Louise Romero was born on September 2, 1928, in La Jara, Colorado, to Joseph and Rose (Chavez) Romero. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1948, received the name of Sister Chavela, and made perpetual vows in 1953. She received her Master’s in Elementary Administration from Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota, in 1966.
Sister Louise served as an elementary school teacher for 33 years in many schools, including St. Raphael, Springfield, Minnesota (1950-1953); Queen of Angels, Austin, Minnesota (1953-1955); Immaculate Conception, Watertown, South Dakota (1955-1960), and Principal (1973-1976); St. Columba, Iona, Minnesota (1960-1961); St. Juliana, Chicago, Illinois, as Directress (1966-1968), teacher (1961-1966), and Principal (1966-1972); St. Andrew, Silver Spring, Maryland (1972-1973); St. Pius X, Glencoe, Minnesota (1976-1981); and St. Mary, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota (1981-1983). She also served at the Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Santa Ana, California, as an enrichment teacher (1983-1999) and Librarian (1989-1999) and at St. Bartholomew, Bethesda, Maryland (1999-2008). Sister Louise retired to Assisi Heights, Rochester, Minnesota, in 2008, volunteering in various ways and serving as the house treasurer.
Survivors of Sister Louise Romero include her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared life for 75 years and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Margaret Stratten, and Sister Mary Jane Romero, OSB.
Sister Louise made the gift of an anatomical bequest to Mayo Clinic. A Memorial Liturgy will be held at Assisi Heights at 11:00 am, Wednesday, January 24, 2024. The burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery. To view the funeral live-streamed via Zoom at 11:00 am on January 24, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88367423126.
Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of Saint Francis, Office of Mission Advancement, 1001 14th Street NW, Rochester, MN 55901.