Today officially marks 1 year since your passing. Not a day goes by that we don’t think about you! We miss you so so much, I remember how contagious your smile was and your laugh. You will always will be with us 🤍 never forgotten. We love you beautiful 🕊️ until we meet again ✨🥺

To my best friend in heaven Eileen, 
Today marks the one year of your passing. 
I miss you so much my dear friend! 
No words can express the emptiness you left in me.  Tears of sadness fill my heart  and memories of us fill my days with joy and comfort . Your love and kindness I will never forget. You live within me and I love you with all my heart and  forever will.  

Your Bestie💔
Honey

Our daughter Eileen, was first and foremost a loving non judgmental person who treated everyone as if they were special.  We could not have had a better daughter or mother to her children, she was brave, honest and a friend to all.  She will be greatly missed by us, her family,  by all her friends and by all who met her.  She was a special person which god only made a few of, to send to this world.

EILEEN MARIE as Remembered by her family:

Eileen Marie Romero was born Tuesday September 12, 1972 at Palm Harbor Hospital in Garden Grove California to the parents of ANDY P. Romero and Pauline C. Romero residing at 9291 Downing Circle in the city of Westminster.  Eileen was born at 7:44 PM weighing in at 7.7 pounds and was 21 inches long.  She came home to us on the third day September 15th.  She was the last of four children who came before her.  Deanna the oldest followed then by her only brother Darryl and forever older sister Andrea.  Making Eileen the baby of the family, so for the next 50 years, she was and has been the baby of the family.

We don’t remember exactly when she started smiling but it was very soon after she was born.  Her first laugh was at 2 ½ months old.  And she never stopped after that.  We loved her from the moment she hit the ground and she has been one of the many great joys of our family. 


Our recollections from birth to age 5:

One of the earliest recollections her mother remembers is that at six weeks old she was very active and she started rolling over and couldn’t be trusted.

Eileen was christened at 2 ½ months on November 26, 1972 at 2:00 PM at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Albuquerque New Mexico by Hank and Gladys Pike.  Among those present were, Pauline’s mom and dad Carlos and Lizzy, Andy’s mother Petrita and Andy’s sister Gloria along with Gloria’s daughters, Jolene and Marianne. Also present were Hank and Glady’s daughters Melody and Laura. And of course sisters Deanna, Andrea and brother Darryl.

Her Mother Pauline writes in her baby book, “Pretty soon she could roll over alone at four months. She would get everywhere by rolling over and over. She then sat up at 7 months and also began to creep.  She stood up at 9 months and soon thereafter walked alone.  Her first words were Andrea and Hi at 10 months Pauline hand writes on the back of the baby book in her own handwriting the following;

Eileen is happy all the time, crawls all over, loves to stay in a kneeling position for long time, eats all the time, skinny but a good eater.  Favorite fruit is raspberry cobbler and loves cereal all the time.

She stays very well in the playpen loves to be outdoors. Went camping on Labor Day weekend 1973.  Eileen didn’t enjoy it at all she was miserable.  We had to come home one night early and she slept for a long time the next day.  

Does patty cakes at ten months real well.  Loves to play peekaboo.  Is  adorable and happy all the time.  Does bad things and smiles the whole time she does them. At 10 months she has a terrible curiosity about electrical plugs.

In 1974 when Eileen was two years of age the Romero family moved to 10138 Sunn Avenue in the city of Fountain Valley. In November of 1975 at the age of 3 years Eileen contracted double pneumonia and had to be hospitalized fortunately she survived.

In Fountain Valley in 1975 the Romero family, met that Rivera family.  Both families originally came from the state of New Mexico.  The two families quickly became lifelong friends.  Max and Pat Rivera like the Romero family at four children Vince, Lucia, Maria, and Sammy.

We mention this event at this point because Sammy was about Eileen’s age. Sometimes when the family’s got together, Sammy and Eileen would sneak off and hide and kiss each other.  This was Eileen’s first kiss and whenever we caught them Eileen would just smile. 

This period of time for the Romero family was a very busy time.  The Romero family had side businesses consisting of a western store, horse livery stable and beach parking lots.  So many times Eileen was taken to the horse stables where she occasionally was put on a horse or taken down to the beach to play.  Also during this time the family drove their motor home up the coast of California and visited family in Oregon. 

Being the baby of the family, Eileen always tagged along while her older siblings did their activities such as going to the park, taking swimming or skating lessons.

Moving on, by the age of four Eileen started showing a lot of interest and natural ability for dancing.  


Our recollections of Eileen from age 5 to age 12:

In 1977 the Romero family  moved to 7142 Columbus Avenue in Anaheim Hills.  Those years were the worst of times and the best of times for Eileen and the Romero family.
In 1978 tragedy struck the Romero family their son Darryl age 12 contracted non hodgekins lymphoma. This event changed the whole course of the Romero family. The family turned inward.  The families side businesses were sold and the most important thing in their lives became the individual members of the family. From then on everything centered around the Romero children.  At least once a year the family would go back to Albuquerque, New Mexico to all the relatives..  

Eileen would tag along with her mother when Pauline took Darryl for his chemo every week.  Fortunately Darryl’s lymphoma went into remission within a year. 

The family installed a swimming pool in the backyard for the Romero children and their friends.  Unfortunately sometimes when Andy and Pauline went away all the kids would jump off the roof into the swimming pool.  Somehow no one ever got hurt.
This period of time was a very busy for Eileen and the family. 

Eileen and her Sister Andrea started school at Nohl Canyon Elementary school in Anaheim Hills.  It was Church on Sunday’s at San Antonio Catholic Church making her first communion 1979.  During the week it was school. Eileen was a good student and had fun at school. In fact she seemed to have fun all the time.  On weekends it was swimming, playing with friends, taking ice and roller skating lessons along with swimming lessons. 

During that time, Pauline, her mother, joined a Bowling League and would bowl every Tuesday.  On some Tuesdays Eileen would tell her mother she was sick and Pauline would have to take her to the Bowling Alley with her.  Later in life, Eileen told her mother that she would always be sick on Tuesdays because she knew that she would be taken to the bowling alley. She said she loved to watch Pauline and her friends bowl.  Then all the ladies would go to lunch at a really nice place and she thought it was so much fun.  She told that story with a big smile on her face.

But Eileen’s real favorite pastime was dancing.  She used to line up all girls in the neighborhood and then she would choreograph different dance routines.  Some of the names of the girls in the neighborhood the family remembers were Jeanette Curotto, Jennifer Wener and Kara Duckworth. I’m sure there were other girls in the neighborhood but we do not remember their names 


Our recollections of Eileen from age 13 to age 18:

When Eileen turned 13 we had a great big birthday party for her and her cakes read, “Just what the world needed another teenager”.  

For Eileen those years were filled with Middle School and High School, new friends, lots of outside activities, fun, and also the trials and tribulations that come during those years.  And even then Eileen was all about girls having fun she was always smiling as if she knew something we did not.

She started her 7th grade at El Rancho Middle School, Anaheim Hills  in 1985 and also attended during her eighth and ninth grades. Her Sister Andrea also attended El Rancho. During those years the two sisters were inseparable sometimes hugging each other sometimes fighting with each other. 
 
In a 1985 Disneyland opened a venue, which focused on a teen dance club named VIDEOAPOLIS where young teenagers could go to dance and hangout on weekends.  The family bought season passes to Disneyland for the whole family and for the next two or three years the sisters frequently went to VIDEOAPOLIS.  We thought it was a good safe place for the girls to hang out.  But as life well have it, that is where Eileen met her first boyfriend Kevin and experienced her first relationship with all it’s ups and downs.

To this date the two girls still talk about the trip the family took In 1986 to the World Expo in Vancouver Canada. Both girls were traumatized because there was a murder in the hotel where we were staying.

The 1996 we also took the girls to Washington, DC. They were excited about going to Jefferson’s home in Monticello, George Washington’s home in Virginia and all the monuments in Washington, DC itself.  
Because they had been to Washington, DC, and although they didn't go on this particular trip they liked to talk about a trip to Washington DC by mom and dad.  It was during a private tour that they had the opportunity to stand in the doorway and peer into the Oval Office at the White House. Mom started to step through the door and the secret service agent told mom she could not because the Oval Office had just been swept. Mom responded that her shoes were clean not understanding the office had been swept for devices.  The girls thought that was funny and would tell the story and laugh over and over.

In 1987 Eileen started her high school years at Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills.  Her sister Andrea had started at Canyon High School the year before and had a car so her Sister Andrea was the one that provided transportation. As fate would have it, on a few occasions, we later learned, that they in fact had driven to the school, but just did not stop there.  We have no idea where they went. 

That next year Eileen got her own car and unfortunately a friend Daniel Schumer crashed her car, needless to say Dad was somewhat upset.  

On the positive side during high school Eileen was very involved in the dance program.  She always said that her god given gifts were dancing singing and love.  So she devoted her three years of High School to dancing on the dance team.  The team performed at school functions for both students and parents. She was so good that many times she was one of center dancers in the many dance routines.   We were so proud of her she would always put her whole heart into every routine.  She loved it so much.


Our recollections from 1990 at age 18 to 1998  age 26:

These were the care free years for Eileen.  Eileen graduated from High School in 1990 and was starting to decide what she was going to do.  She knew she wanted to pursue her dream of singing and dancing.  Her older sister Deanna had worked as a waitress at Don Jose’s, had gone to Cosmetology School and had also gone on to graduate from college.  We believe that Eileen wanted to follow in Deanna’s  foot steps.  Eileen also worked as a waitress part time, graduating from Cosmetology school and started school at Santa Ana Community College.  In college she again became involved in the dance and acting program and performed in several college plays. 

While working as a waitress she met Rebecca Webb who was several years younger than Eileen.  After a short bumpy start Rebecca became a lifelong friend and a member of this family.  We are not sure what all the adventures Rebecca and Eileen experienced during that period and also during their lifelong friendship, but we will let Rebecca tell us about those adventures.  Rebecca is still member of this family and always will we be.

In the mid 1980’s, after Darryl went into remission the Family again became involved in side businesses.

 In 1989 the family opened up a third Las Panchitas Mexican restaurant in the city of Citrus Heights in the Sacramento area.  From 1992 to 1998 Pauline opted to manage the restaurant and commuted back and forth weekly.

In 1992 Eileen and sister Andrea wanted to go live and work with their mother. They worked with their mother in the restaurant full time. 

Pauline remembers:  ”I was up there, learning how to run the restaurant and Eileen was up there with me.  At that time we were living in an apartment I would come down to Orange County sometimes weekly and other times Andy would come up to help me.  When I was gone the girls would run the restaurant.  Andy did not like staying at the apartment so we bought a second home in Antelope in 1993. 

 Eileen and I did have some fun times, because she always loved dancing.   So I would accompany her and we would go western dancing at one of the local restaurants.  She was so full of life. Eileen was waitressing and she loved it, because she loved people. She was very caring, lovable person and the customers always felt so welcomed at our restaurant.  Andrea and Eileen were both waitressing and helping me.  We had customers that would come in just because of the girls.      

I am also proud of Eileen for another reason, while I managed the restaurant and did a good job Eileen learned how to cook.  If a cook was late or did show up she could jump in there and do the whole thing.  She was the only one in the family that could do every job in the restaurant. During that time she also took some college classes.”

About that time Eileen met Dave Swan and fell in love with him. Eileen had been diagnosed with Lupus at about age 18. We were warned that pregnancy could trigger the onset of Lupus. But she had always wanted to have children.  Eileen said she did not care and was willing to risk it in order to have a baby. On February the 5th, 1999 she had two beautiful twin daughters little Eileen and Faith. Unfortunately for Eileen and our entire family she did contract Lupus. Eileen and Dave were partners for 20 years. 


Our recollections from 1998 to 2008 age 38:

In 1998 Pauline came home and ownership of the restaurant was transferred to Eileen and Andrea.  While the family still commuted back and forth during that period of time, we reached out to a Hanna for input in those years.  Hanna had been a very young girl when she was mothered by Eileen. The following is what she sent us:

This was a direct  text from Hanna when asked for input in Sacramento:
“She was an adopted mommy to so many of us.  She was a safe space for teenagers, she would listen but not judge.  She gave many of us our first jobs. She poured her heart into that restaurant.  She was always going, going, going.  She had the strongest work ethic. Back and fourth to get supplies, make the bank deposits, and fill in any position that was needed.  Serving, cooking, busing tables, washing dishes, you name it she did it all.  She put in long hours and countless  nights for many years. She made a hell of a margarita and always spoiled her friends with the most delicious fajitas. She knew all the regulars and had established connections with so many of them. She cared deeply for her employees and treated them well.  She managed all the responsibilities of being a business owner while also being an incredible mom to her precious twin daughters.  She would make them “baby burritos”, and let them help out in the restaurant.  She had a play room at the restaurant for them and their friends so they had their own space to play while she worked.  She always made sure those girls were taken care of and having fun.  She would always love them and give them a back massages. 

NO MATTER HOW BAD THE LUPUS WAS ATTACKING HER LEGS, SHE WOULD STILL SHOW UP AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT THAT RESTAURANT.


Our recollections from 2008 age 38 to the present:

By 2008 due to her Lupus Eileen could no longer manage the restaurant.  The rent had been raised so high that the restaurant could not be sold.  She closed the doors and just left.

She, Dave and the girls returned to Corona.  Eileen had good days and bad days. Often in so much of pain that she could not even get out of bed.  Lupus was staring to affect various parts of her body. The real sad part about her Lupus is that most people do not understand Lupus.  That also goes for so many in the medical profession. Because her pain was severe times she would ask for some type of pain relieving medication.  Because this was recorded in her medical chart the attending Physicians would often treat her like a drug addict.  It was so sad but she just took it.  And yes, she even had to turn to Marijuana.

Dave and Eileen were never married and unfortunately Dave left Eileen about five years ago.  

Since the family has grown we celebrate some ones birthday, frequently, about nine months out of a year. The family has a big get together almost every month when you add Christmas, Easter and other Holidays.  Eileen would always show up, always smiling and putting up a good face even though she may have been in pain. 

Eileen’s daughter Faith had a baby, Everly, 3 years ago in October.  Eileen loved that little girl so much she was one of Eileen’s great joys in life.  Everly is just as active as Eileen was she was a baby.  Everly even looks a lot like what Eileen did when she was a baby.

In the last years of her life Eileen became very close friends with her neighbor Honey.  They did a lot of things together, we greatly appreciate Honey.  Honey and Eileen were inseparable especially in these last six months.  They went to the Beach, they went to Santa  Monica Pier and so many other places.  Like Rebecca, Honey has become family.

On the Fifth of February, we celebrated Faith and little Eileens Birthdays.  Big Eileen, as we were now calling her was not feeling well by about 8:30 pm.  She said she was having trouble breathing and wanted to go home and get her breathing mask.  She went home by herself. 

 Soon after, her niece Brittany and Brittany’s, fiancée, PATRICK heard her fall.   They immediately went to her, found her on the floor. Patrick started CPR, Brittany called 911 the paramedics, who soon arrived and did everything they could for her, all to no avail.

Eileen was such a significant part of our family we are going to miss her  wonderful smile, her bravery, always putting on a good face despite her continuous pain.  Our lives will never be the same without her.  She will be in our minds and hearts forever we loved her so, so, so much.

Beautiful garden where Eileen lays to rest

Eileen being baptized on June 7th 2003
at Saddleback Church. One of her most happiest days❤️

Beautiful Garden where Eileen lays to rest

March 1st.  Faith and Eileen  releasing  the doves .
Eileen we love you very much💕💕💕

I'm so sorry for your loss 
I Remember Eileen being such a great and wonderful young lady ,full of laughter and such a great Smile.
My heart goes out to your family especially Andrea.

I'm sorry we didn't get to spend more time together 

Our family misses you dearly and We will always carry you with us 🕊️ we love you 💞

We miss you and love you so much auntie ! 🤍 the house is not the same with out you 🥺😞 

I Dedicate This Poem To You, 

                     OUR STORY
Farewell my friend you’re leaving,
It’s time for you to go,
Our  friendship was a blessing,
And I will miss you so!
We shared so many memories,
You brightened up my days,
You brought me so much happiness,
With your kind and loving ways,
You lifted up my spirits,
When I felt Blue, 
No matter what was happening,
You knew just what to do,
As we both loved the rain,
We ran between its drops,
Let’s not forget our road-trips,
And the sunsets on the beach,
On beer and wine we sipped and a Taps burger we split, oh and oysters we sure enjoyed,
All that  for sure I will miss,
Through all the ups and downs of life,
The good times and the sad,
You were for sure the best friend I had,
Today and Now,
God is here to take you home,
Now you and I must part,
I love you, and forever you will live within my heart💔
Your Bestie,
Honey 


Eileen was a shining light in this world.  She loved God and her family with all her heart and I know that she is smiling down on all.  I am so very sorry to all her family and friends.  She left this world too soon.

Eileen getting her hair done for my wedding . 

I am deeply sorry for your loss, I am holding your family in my heart and prayers. There are no words that can do justice for how much I loved Eileen and what she meant to me. She lit up every room she walked in and her energy was contagious. She had a beautiful singing voice and she was an absolute comedian. She made an everlasting impact on my life and I will forever cherish the memories her and I shared. She was an incredible friend, sister, daughter, and mom I will continue to remember her and celebrate her beautiful life for as long as I am here. 

Mine and Rod’s wedding 1995. 

I have so many photos of mine and Eilieen’s memories. I am very excited and grateful to share those with you in the future. 

Words can’t express the sadness and heartbreak that I have endured since I heard of your passing. With such heavy heart  and tears of sorrow  Iam trying to accept your departure… This pain will Never go away! Our friendship was built on unconditional love for each other and our friendship will live forever in my heart. You were so good to me  and filled my life with 
laughter, joy , kindness, acceptance, fun, love and comfort. I found a sister in you that no one will ever replace . You can bet on that! You promised me that when you go to Heaven you will come back as an angel on my shoulder to protect me and be with me as my guardian . I will be looking for you as I continue my journey on earth without you.. you were my everything and everything was you.   Thank you for the best friendship  , for your kindness and the love that you showed me .I want you to know that you took a huge part of me with you  I will tremendously miss you …
Love you forever , you will live within me forever💕

I cannot begin to express the sadness that filled my heart when I learned of Eileen’s passing. While we had not been in contact very much the last few years, she will have forever made a significant impact in my life. To me, she will always have been a wonderful aunt, a fun boss, and a dear friend. 

I can remember our fun times together- talking about boys (every teenager needs someone to talk to and she was my special someone), driving to who knows where for a pageant (wouldn’t have known what todo with my hair and makeup without her), partying it up at my bachelorette party (we all had dare cards and Eileen I’m still keeping yours secret), and so much more. 


I can’t find words to express the sadness that filled my heart when I learned of Eileen’s passing. While we hadn’t been in touch very much the last few years, she made a significant impact in my life that will never be forgotten. To me, Eileen will forever have been a wonderful aunt (willing to drop anything and everything to help someone she loves- wouldn’t have known what to do with my hair and makeup for a pageant without her), a fun boss (I’ll miss our girl talk! Every teenager needs someone to talk to and you were always there for me), and friend that will be dearly missed. 

So sorry to hear about your loss hope you’re doing OK our prayers are with you another star in heaven God bless you

Although I haven't seen Eileen in many years, her parents Andy and Pauline have been among my best friends for fifty years. I remember Eileen as a beautiful little girl always laughing and playful. I wrote and dedicate this poem to her memory and to the love her parents gave her.

To a Beautiful Butterfly  
They always say that time will heal, but today that cannot change the way we feel.
And even though time will heal our pain, it can never bring you back again.
Your  laughter and ever present smile always touched our hearts,
and there you will live forever for your memory will never depart.
We know now little  butterfly you're wrapped in angels wings,
and like that beautiful creature you flew among us for  brief moment
and you lit up our world.
God entrusted your mom and dad with an angel and your wings were just hiding within, now you can spread your wings and fly back to earth each night,
That you may live in our dreams again until  each morning's light.
Until once again we are no  longer apart, you are the air we breathe and the beat of our hearts.



I was so heartbroken to receive the news of your passing, my beautiful friend Eileen. You were the sweetest and most faithful and loving woman I've known. You had a way of making those around you feel so special and so important. I only can pray that you knew the love I had for you and how I wished for you to get the happy ending that you always dreamed of. You deserves everything. You always told me you would die young, and that when you did you would be the bride of Jesus and that you would dance in heaven. I believe that's exactly what you're doing right now. I love you, I will miss you, and I am so thankful for the years of friendship and love you gave me.  

Love Always, 
Jamie

Dearest Romero Family we are Sending you light and love Dearest ones ❤️ Eileen was the sweetest loving young lady and Bestest friends with our girls Tiffany and Aimee 
Thank you Andy for watching over them during their teen age years always coming up with silly funny pranks ..always Daddys girl 
Our Love for one another never separates us 
God Bless you all and may the Angels in Heaven surround you 🙏 

Happy Birthday Eileen this is you and me and your beautiful sister in 2009 at Bible study at SHCC you are now with our precious Jesus. We will miss you until we are reunited with you. Much love

I will treasure this day forever, Eileen and MANY more, May you be at Peace with our Father in Heaven, my beloved friend.  I Love you. 💞🙏🏻🥹

OBITUARY

Eileen Marie Romero

September 12, 1972 – February 5, 2023

Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park and Mortuary

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