J. Marilyn Romano Dooley

The funeral will be held from Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg, on Saturday, January 27, with a Mass in Saint Anthony di Padua Church, 84 Salem St., Fitchburg at 10:00am. Burial will follow in Saint Bernard’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be held in the funeral home on Friday, January 26, from 5-8pm.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the St. Anthony di Padua Church Restoration Fund, 84 Salem St., Fitchburg, MA 01420.



OBITUARY

Fitchburg – J. Marilyn (Dooley) Romano, 82, of Fitchburg, passed away on January 19, in the Highlands, surrounded by her family.

Marilyn was born in Fitchburg on February 20, 1935, daughter of the late William J. and E. Genesta (Baker) Dooley. She attended St. Bernard’s Elementary School and graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1952. She also took classes at Fitchburg State College. In 1954, Marilyn married D. Robert Romano whom she met in high school. Marilyn’s dedication to her husband and four children was inspiring. She was fortunate to have seventeen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren whom she adored.

Marilyn was a gifted artist. She loved painting and she captured beauty both on canvas and slate. The delicate iris flower, which was her favorite, was one of her many works she painted on slate. Marilyn’s strength and warmth were radiant and she always put others before herself. Her smile was effortless, her grace and loyalty admirable, and her soft, gentle voice was calming to all.

Marilyn had the most beautiful flower gardens and took great pride in their beauty, as gardening was one of her many passions. Spending summers camping at the beach with her family was one of her favorite adventures. She took pleasure in working in the greenhouse, and she also devoted herself to many organizations. Marilyn was the president of the Fitchburg Women’s Club, on the Board of Directors of the Fort Lauderdale Women’s Club, and a member of the St. Sebastian’s Women’s Club. She was an active member of the Fitchburg Art Museum and the Leominster Art Association. Marilyn was an exceptional swimmer and at the age of 63, she was the first place winner of the Ocean Mile Swim in Fort Lauderdale. She was an assistant instructor at the International Swimming Hall of Fame and also a volunteer instructor at the YMCA. Marilyn’s generous nature, warm heart, and creative spirit will always be with those who loved her.

Marilyn leaves her husband of 63 years, D. Robert Romano of Fitchburg; three sons, Robert Romano and wife Janet Marie of Burlington, Douglas Romano and wife Joan of Leominster, Dean Romano and wife Danielle of Ashburnham; son in law Attorney Ronald A. Martignetti of Winchester; grandchildren, Robert, Joseph, and Michael Romano, Dominick and Katarina Romano, Molly, Dominic, and Josephina Romano, Anthony, Anita, John Paul, Caroline, Joseph, Mark, Michael, and Maria Martignetti; great grandchildren, Gavin and Jacob Romano, Piper and Eliza Romano, Anna Lynne and Lucia DiVitto, and Lynne Martignetti; brothers, Norman Dooley and wife Kathy of Seabrook, NH, and Stephen Dooley of Plainfield, CT; many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her daughter Lynne Martignetti in 2016, a granddaughter, Catherine Martignetti, brother William J. Dooley, Jr., and her in-laws, Dominic and Molly (Carbone) Romano.