Moira Chamberlin Romeo

Moira Rose (Chamberlin) Romeo, 94, of Lakeland, Florida (formerly Homosassa, FL), passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at the Hawthorne Inn of Lakeland. Moira was married to the late F. John Romeo for 61 years until his death in December of 2016.

A native of Great Neck, New York, and a 60-year resident of Long Island, Moira was born August 17, 1927, to Ross and Dora (Lynch) Chamberlin. She was one of six children and was predeceased by her three brothers and two sisters. Moira and F. John moved to Homosassa in 1987 from Commack, NY.

Moira was one of the best-read people this world has ever produced. She exhausted most libraries within a 20-mile radius of every town she ever lived in. Despite this incredible desire to read and learn, college was not in the cards for most young women when she graduated from high school in June of 1945. Instead, she attended and graduated from the Katharine Gibbs secretarial school and worked for many years in New York City before getting married and starting her family. While working as a secretary, she also took a number of night classes at Fordham University (coincidentally, her husband F. John and granddaughter, Sarah, would also attend and graduate from Fordham U).

For a number of years after retirement, Moira and F. John were snowbirds, living their lives in Homosassa, Fl in the winters and Ludlow, Vt in the summers. Moira loved Vermont. She spent many hours reading by and swimming in Lake Rescue, walking along the beautiful dirt roads, dining in many of the quaint Ludlow restaurants, and occasionally playing a round of golf with F. John. She was a good golfer but, as she would say, she knew how to move along and advance the ball. She also enjoyed her 30+ years in Florida, winning awards as a contributing member of the Creative Quilters Guild of Citrus County, volunteering in the neonatal ward at Citrus Memorial, playing golf at Sugarmill Woods Country Club, and as an active member of her parish church. Both Moira and John created many fond memories while members of the Homosassa community.

Moira leaves behind her five children: son John Romeo (Noeline), Garden City, L.I., NY; son Peter Romeo (Peggy), Stonington, CT; daughter Elisabeth Romeo Tracy (J. Michael), Lakeland, FL; son Thomas Romeo, New York, NY; daughter Kathryn Romeo Bochman (Michael), Plymouth, MA and seven grandchildren: Sarah Alyse Romeo (Nathaniel Matthews), Fair Haven NJ; William Hamel Romeo, Burlington, VT; F. Joseph Tracy, Lakeland, FL; Jane Catherine Tracy, Lakeland Fl; John Michael Bochman, Pembroke, MA; Andrew James Bochman, Brooklyn, NY and Mary Kathryn Bochman, Plymouth, MA. And one great-grandchild Walter Matthews (son of Sarah and Nate).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 10:30 A.M at St. John Neumann Church, East Carter Road, Lakeland Fl. Interment will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Moira’s family requests that memorial contributions be made to:

• St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

• Operation Smile

• The Public Library Foundation (or your local library)