Our mother Mary Louise “Mary Lou” Romero passed away peacefully on June 29, 2021, at Serenity House with her children at her side. She was born in Ventura and moved to Santa Barbara when she was a little girl. She and her husband of 50 years owned and operated the Villarreal Market in Santa Barbara from 1965 to 1979.

She was a strong woman of strong faith, always happy, confident, unique and adventurous. A loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother (she preferred to be called Mamucha instead of grandma), who loved to encourage her family to be opened to learn and grow.

Our mother loved to try different forms of art, always learning new things such as sewing, Bunka (a Japanese needle point), music, singing, wood working, painting, stain glass, making Christmas stockings, and baking.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband Miguel H. Romero and their youngest son James F. Romero.

She is survived by her three children, her daughters Mary Louise “Maria” Romero and Sylvia Romero-Guzman, and her son Michael P. Romero (Alma); her grandchildren Lia, Steve, Richard, Arturo, Andre and Amanda Romero, and Gabriel and Adam Guzman; and her great grandchildren Mia and Dominic Romero, Natalia, Gianna, Valentina and Elissandra Guzman.

Rosary service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 14 at Welch-Rice-Haider, 15 E. Sola St. Santa Barbara. Mass of Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 15 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 21 E. Sola St., followed by internment service at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or VHA-Health Serenity House, 930 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109.

Mom, Que Dios te cuide y te protégé para siempre. Que descanese en paz! Mamucha, we love you!