Juanita Roomian

On December 12, 2014, Juanita Roomian, our “gaga”, passed away peacefully at home. Juanita was born to Andrea and Gilfred Hyder on March 10, 1939, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The family moved to California, settled in San Francisco and Juanita attended St. Patrick’s Elementary School, St. Vincent’s High School and City College of San Francisco.

On April 26, 1959, Juanita married Robert Roomian and together they danced their way through the 60’s at places like the Sinaloa and Bimbo’s. They loved to attend jazz clubs and threw terrific parties, dancing till dawn at their home on Alta Vista Way in Daly City. In 1970, the family moved to San Rafael where they lived for almost 30 years and raised their sons on Rollingwood Drive in Glenwood.

In December, 2000, they moved to St. Helena where Juanita embarked on a 14-year “mission” assisting in the raising of her granddaughters. She and Bob shuttled between San Francisco, Napa and St. Helena to attend nearly every school and sporting event and her home was open to teenagers from two counties for 40 years. Believing you could never “spoil your kids too much”, she thoroughly enjoyed shopping trips with her granddaughters, traveling to Hong Kong and Europe with her sons and their families, and dinner at Rutherford Grill.

Juanita was a meticulous dresser, consummate homemaker and generous beyond words to her sons, granddaughters, and her extended family and was a total sports mom and grandmother. She also loved playing on St Helen’s Bocce Architetti and had a feisty and competitive spirit. Juanita was also an avid gardener and her garden reflected her love of beauty and dedication to perfection.

Juanita’s beloved sons, Mark and Chris, will never forget her as the “cool” mom and along with their wives, Suzanne and Therese and her cherished granddaughters, Victoria, Bianca and Audrey, wish her God’s speed as she joins her parents and younger brother John in heaven.

Juanita is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, Robert, her beloved sister Rebecca, her brother-in-law, Robert Young, and their children, Alicia, Matthew, and his wife Jackie.

She’s also remembered as “Auntie Nita” by her nieces and nephews Jason, Angela, their mother Kay Janning, Braydon, Tessa, Shane, Christine, and Cody.

Finally, the family will not forget the support and guidance given by Juanita’s goddaughter Linda “Christine” Abreu and her mother, Annette Arceo. Christine and Annette flew in like angels to support the Bob and the family.

Along with the spiritual support of Father Gordon at St. Helena Catholic Church, the family thanks Kaiser Permanente, Napa Care Center and Napa Valley Hospice for their care and support. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements under the direction of Morrison Funeral Chapel, St. Helena, CA.