I can't believe a year has passed since Romana departed.  The World seems less bright without her. She was a shining star that shone through even on cloudy days.  I hope her love and light continue to shine through her children and grandchildren as they care for one another and honor her memory.

Happy birthday, mamma. 

I think of you every day. I never imagined how difficult life would be without you. I love you always.  🩷

Mamma

Mom was the mother of four children—Ugo, Flavia, Abie, and Mary. She was Nonna to five grandchildren—Palma, Jessica, Dhillon, Pasqualina, and Dustin—and Bisnonna to Arabella.

My mom was born and raised in Asmara, Eritrea. Her upbringing was not the easiest, but despite it all, she became one of the best people we have ever known. When war broke out in Asmara, she was left to fend for herself and all four of us. With bombs exploding and gunfire a constant presence, she did everything she could to keep us calm. At night, she would sneak spoonfuls of honey into our mouths to help us sleep.

She endured the unimaginable loss of her only son, Ugo, yet she found the strength to carry on, bringing her three girls to safety—first to Sudan and eventually to America. Because of her, our family grew and thrived. We owe her not only our lives but also all of our successes.

We, her daughters, were a little selfish—we wanted to keep her all to ourselves. But her love was too big for that. She became mom to so many amazing people. People like TJ, Woldu, Ifrah and many more. Her love was like a warm hug that spread all over the world.

She was tough when she needed to be, but at her core, she was the kindest and most compassionate person. A master of knitting, crocheting, and gardening, she passed those skills on to us, and we cherish them to this day. But her true love language was food. No matter how full you were when you visited her, she would still insist on feeding you. If you said you had already eaten, she’d find a way to convince you that you needed “just a little more.” Feeding people wasn’t just about food—it was her way of making sure you were cared for, her way of saying, I love you.

She was the kind of person who would go to great lengths to help others, even if it meant putting herself in a difficult situation. That was just who she was. She had a way of making everyone feel special, like they mattered, like they were part of her family.

…continued

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Mama Roma, a truly remarkable woman whose love, warmth, and selflessness touched the lives of so many in our community. Her kindness knew no boundaries, and her heart was open to all, especially the young adults in Phoenix, who loved and respected her dearly.

Mama Roma’s passing is a tremendous loss to all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was more than a friend to our family—she was like family herself. Her unwavering care and generosity will forever be remembered.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to her daughters, grandchildren, and the entire family during this difficult time. May Allah grant you patience and strength, and may He bless Mama Roma with His infinite mercy, forgive her sins, and grant her the highest level of heaven.

Her legacy of love and compassion will live on in all of us. She will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

With prayers, love, and deepest sympathy,
[Abdu Bahta and his family.]

Moments like these will be forever missed.

My mom’s smile was a showstopper that exuded radiance. This is another favorite photo of mine.

I went with Nonna to watch her swim at the YMCA. I almost didn’t believe she would! It was remarkable to see her picking up swimming as I hadn’t seen her swim before—At least not that I can remember. She used her floaty and swam gently back and forth and I was happy to see how pleased she looked. She’s smiling and, I imagine, loving the video proof in the making. I treasure this video of her.

Nona is an amazing woman who has such a big heart! She loves with all her heart and soul. The first time I met her 30+ years ago, she brought me in as one of her family and has kept me as such the entire time.  She has a wonderful sense of humor which I love about her. One of my very first memories of Nona are when Meri  and I would go over to her house for our lunch break during work and we would sit at the kitchen table talking then Meri  and Nona would all start having a conversation, Nona would start speaking in five different languages during a conversation that I would not understand and then she would say my name in English in the middle of a sentence and look at me and laugh because I would have no idea what she was saying.  We are  so very blessed to have her in our life. One of my very special memories is when my son was getting baptized  she even gave him  his first suit for his baptismal. We love you Nona and will miss you ❤️

We will truly miss you forever and always, Nonna. Thank you for everything you’ve done for each and every one of us. We love you.

Arabella and her Great Grandma were only 1 day apart.

Sage still remembers the fun of throwing cheerios around with Romana -- more than 20 years ago! She has a great way with kids.

Nonna was the heart of our family—strong, loyal, and full of love. She taught me what it means to love deeply, to care for others, and to show up no matter what. She believed in family and community, and she lived those values every single day.

She was bold, authentic, and strong-willed—passionately true to herself. She gave love freely, even when she wasn’t feeling her best. No matter how she felt, she was always offering to feed us and take care of us, because that’s just who she was—selfless, nurturing, and endlessly giving. Even in her weakened state, just over a day before she left us, she was still offering me everything she had in her room.

Her sacrifices built the foundation of our lives. She brought my family here from a homeland torn by conflict, carrying the weight of the unknown to give us a better future. Because of her, I was the first in our family to be born in America. Her courage and determination shaped our family’s story, and we are forever grateful.

Nonna was always there for us. She helped raise all five of her grandkids, including me. When my mom was at work, Nonna watched over me, making sure I was safe, cared for, and well-fed. We even lived on either side of her home because she was the center of everything. She was more than a grandmother—she was a second mother, a protector, and my greatest source of comfort.

Her presence was larger than life, and the loss of her feels unbearable. There is no one like her. She is impossible to replace and the world feels empty without her. Nonna, I miss you more than words can express. I don’t know how to move forward without you, but I will carry your strength in my heart forever.

Romana is a force of nature—unyielding in spirit, boundless in love, and fierce in her devotion to those she cared about. From the moment I met her in 1984 in Khartoum, Sudan, I knew she was someone extraordinary. She had already overcome more than most could imagine—trekking across one of Africa’s most unforgiving landscapes from Asmara to Kassala, with three young daughters in tow. Nothing could stop her. Nothing ever did.

Once in Sudan, she carved a path forward, finding a way to get to Arizona through a refugee resettlement program. There, she built a new life, turning a place of refuge into a home, where she welcomed friends with open arms, warm laughter, and a meal that always carried the taste of heritage and love.

For years, whenever I visited, she made sure to have injera and doro wat waiting for me, served with the best homemade tej in the world. It wasn’t just a meal—it was a symbol of friendship, of shared history, of the unbreakable bond we had formed over decades. A few weeks ago, when my son Sage and I flew to Arizona to see her, even in her weakness, she still thought of me. She apologized for not being able to serve me injera and tej, as if her love needed to be proven through food. But she never had to prove anything. Romana’s love, her strength, and her kindness spoke for themselves in every moment of her life.

Romana was a woman who overcame, who endured, who gave without hesitation. Her beauty was radiant, her tenacity knew no bounds, and her spirit will never fade. I will carry her memory with me always—through the taste of injera, the warmth of shared laughter, and the knowledge that true friendship, like hers, is a rare and precious gift.

Rest in power, Romana. You will always be with us.

For many years, I called Romana Ramona... and she was always too polite to correct me.  Only last year she gently hinted that I had two vowels in her name transposed.

OBITUARY

Romana Gemma Michele

August 11, 1942 – March 4, 2025

Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery

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