Madison Howard "Bud" Romaine

Madison Howard “Bud” Romaine passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on Thursday, surrounded by the love of his family. He was a 92-year old native of Kaplan, LA, and a long-time resident of Baton Rouge. He graduated from Kaplan High School and attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1952 and was honorably discharged in 1960 as a Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class. During his military service, he worked at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Chelsea, MA and served aboard a medical ship stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Bud enjoyed a 39-year career at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge and was instrumental in establishing its first nuclear medicine department in the 1960s. At the hospital, he was known for his sense of humor, excellent patient care, and eagerness to help others. Recognizing these qualities, the hospital presented him with its Franciscan Service Award in 2000, the highest honor given to exceptional team members.

Bud centered his life on his Catholic faith. He served in various ministries at St. Aloysius Catholic Church and St. Joseph Cathedral, including reader, usher, hospitality, and parish fair. In 2018, he received the St. Joseph Apprentice Award from Bishop Robert Muench for his service to the diocese. He was a Boy Scouts of America troop leader and scoutmaster. Following retirement from the hospital, Bud volunteered as a nuclear medicine technician for local veterinary hospitals.

He is best remembered as a lifelong fisherman, green-thumb, master chef-on-demand and a true Cajun French gentleman. Bud prized reeling in a bull red along Louisiana’s coast, pruning his rose garden, and making a big pot of jambalaya or gumbo. Among his many friends and family, Bud was known for his Cajun jokes, perfect coffee, culinary skills—both cooking and eating — and his love of traveling and LSU sports. He never met a stranger. And, above all, he adored his family. He cherished those times when the whole family gathered at his house for a special occasion or just a backyard BBQ or crawfish boil.

Bud was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cynthia Carmena Romaine, his sisters Mary Emily Romaine and Rayetta Romaine Bush, and his brother Alfred Ray Romaine, Jr. He is survived by his brother Lawrence Charles Romaine and his wife Annie, his sister-in-law Dorothy Compete Romaine, and his sister-in-law Linda Devall and her husband Frank; his four children Lisa Jones Corley and her husband Troy, Robert Craig Romaine and his wife Susan, Christopher Martel Romaine and his partner John, and Nancy Amanda Romaine Tooraen and her husband John; his twelve grandchildren Jessica Cashio and her husband Brent, Lauren Soldani and her husband Lance, Sarah Wright and her husband Chris, Andrew Romaine and his wife Sahana, Catherine Romaine, Natnael Romaine, Caitlyn Thompson, Connor Thompson, Jack Tooraen, Emma Tooraen, Natalia Tooraen, and Drake Tooraen; and five great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend special thanks to all of Bud’s caregivers—angels sent from Heaven—and Audubon Hospice for their wonderful support and care during his final days. We also want to thank Father Jon Koehler for his spiritual support and guidance during this time.

A funeral mass will be held at 1:30pm on Saturday, December 16th at St. Joseph Cathedral at 401 Main Street, Baton Rouge, preceded by visitation beginning at 11:30 am. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery at 4045 North Street, Baton Rouge. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Food Services (https://svdpbr.org/donate). Please share memories at www.rabenhorst.com