Jean Marie Romani Lancaster

Born in Framingham, Mass. on April 15, 1932 to Louis J. Romani and Ida Perini Romani. The family moved to Taunton, Mass shortly thereafter. Jean is preceded in death by her parents and beloved husband of 64 years, John.

Jean attended St. Mary’s School in Taunton from kindergarten through high school. She was editor of her high school yearbook senior year and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She then attended Simmons College and graduated from Children’s Hospital in Boston. As head nurse in 1955, Jean was part of a unit that cared for one of worst polio epidemics the area had ever experienced. That same year she married her best friend and husband, John Fredrick Lancaster while he was in his second year of medical school. After his graduation, Jean and John moved to various states while he completed his training and they continued building their large Catholic family.

In 1965 the family set down their roots in Houston, Texas. Jean served on various school boards where her seven children attended. Jean was also a member of the Building Committee for St. Cecilia’s Catholic Parish, Young Audiences of America, the Diocesan Development Board and a two-time co-chair of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Gala.

Jean was most proud of her involvement with Charity Guild of Catholic Women where she was an emeritus member and where she served as President in 1989 and Chair of the Building Committee.

Jean leaves seven children: John Michael; Lisa McCaslin (Mark); Peter (Rosa); Kristine Rizzo (Dan); Joseph; Jenifer Levins (John) and Thomas (John). The beloved matriarch of an ever-growing family, Jean treasured her 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren along with her best friend, Joanne Brown, a “sister from another mother” of Fairhope, Alabama.

May Jean’s soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Friends are cordially invited to a Requiem Mass celebrating Jean’s life commencing on Monday, September 16 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Houston, with Father Mike officiating. The family invites friends to gather for a reception in the parish hall directly following Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Star of Hope or The Houston Food Bank.