Carol H. Romeka

Carol Ann Hess (Reese) Romeka, 83, of Jacksonville, and a former resident of Jacksonville Beach, and Sebastian, FL, passed away on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at her son and daughter-in-law’s home in Orange Park, FL after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born on January 21, 1928 in Kirksville, MO to the late Dr. Carl Elsworth Hess and Florence Elizabeth (Nesbitt) Hess. She was a 1948 graduate of Western Reserve in Cleveland, OH, and in 1952 she received her Bachelors’ of Science Degree from the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. In 1977 she received recognition for developing a speech intelligibility test to be used in determining which Deaf and Hard of Hearing students were ready to be placed in mainstream classes with hearing students. Carol was a Teacher of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, and a Speech Therapist in Duval County Schools until retiring in 1979. She was also an award winning artist in oil painting, and active in the Southside Garden Club in Jacksonville, before moving to Sebastian in 1993. There she was involved with the Welcome Wagon while pursuing her hobbies of fishing, painting, writing, and travel. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Sebastian. She is survived by her 6 children, Bruce D. Reese (Noni Reese) Orange Park, FL; Lauren R. Dehaan (Rob Dehaan) Jacksonville, FL; Dana E. Hope (Chris Hope) Micco, FL; Dale Romeka (Kathy Romeka) Panacea, FL; Marylou Taylor (Bill Taylor) Tampa, FL; and Jim Romeka (Kathi Romeka) Middleburg, FL. She is also survived by her 8 Grandchildren, 7 Great-grandchildren, 1 Cousin and 2 Nephews. Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Frank R. Romeka, whom she married in October of 1977 in Neptune Bch, FL. No service is scheduled. Following cremation, the family will have a private scattering of ashes. The family requests contributions be made to Hospice of Jacksonville or Clare Bridge Cottage at 10050 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville, FL. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223. www.hgmandarin.com (904) 288-0025