By Cuellar of Webb H.R. No. 931 74R13176 WMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The untimely passing of Mary Beatrice Romani on 1-2 January 7, 1994, at the age of 52, has brought great sadness to the 1-3 many friends and relatives of this beloved woman; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Born May 16, 1941, in Laredo to Gloria and Andrew 1-5 Smith, she was the oldest of nine children in the close-knit Smith 1-6 family and was graduated from Martin High School in 1960, after 1-7 which she selflessly sacrificed the opportunity to continue her own 1-8 education to enable her siblings to fulfill their dreams of 1-9 attending college; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Mrs. Romani met her future husband, John Romani, 1-11 while both were employed by McClellan's Department Store in Laredo, 1-12 and the two were joined in matrimony on June 20, 1965; this 1-13 cherished woman enjoyed nearly three decades of mutual love and 1-14 devotion with her husband before her passing and was blessed with a 1-15 fine daughter, Michelle, whose obvious admiration and affection for 1-16 her parents greatly enhanced their happy home life; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Mrs. Romani was endowed with the spirit of 1-18 volunteerism, and consistently gave freely of her time and talents 1-19 to benefit such worthy causes as the Catholic Youth Organization, 1-20 Mary Help of Christians PTA, the Laredo Police Department, the 1-21 Laredo Knights of Columbus, and Head Start, where, in addition to 1-22 serving the organization as a longtime volunteer, she was also a 1-23 valued employee for seven years; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Even when stricken with the illness which ultimately 2-1 claimed her life, this compassionate individual continued to place 2-2 the welfare of others before her own, easing the burden of her 2-3 family and fellow cancer patients with her warmth and limitless 2-4 optimism; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Spiritual strength was a hallmark of this remarkable 2-6 woman's life, and she demonstrated her abiding faith as an active 2-7 member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, where she also 2-8 possessed one of the finest voices in the choir; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Mary Beatrice Romani was a woman of rare compassion 2-10 and strength; although her kind presence and gentle love has been 2-11 greatly missed by all who knew her, her remarkable spirit lives on 2-12 in the hearts of the many people whose lives she touched during her 2-13 time on this earth; now, therefore, be it 2-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-15 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mary Beatrice Romani 2-16 and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her 2-17 husband, John A. Romani; to her daughter, Michelle Romani; to her 2-18 mother, Gloria Smith; to her brothers and their wives, Andrew E. 2-19 and Idolina Smith, Henry F. and Elvira Smith, and Chester F. and 2-20 Julieta Smith; to her sisters and their husbands, Matilde Smith, 2-21 Gloria and Bob Jamison, Josie and Sergio Vega, Maria de Jesus 2-22 Helfrich and Martin Helfrich, and Ruby and Robert Gonzalez; to her 2-23 sister-in-law and her husband, Cecilia and Jaime Garza; to her 2-24 mother-in-law and her husband, Mary and Nicolas Sotelo; and to the 2-25 many other friends and relatives of this beloved woman; and, be it 2-26 further 2-27 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared 3-1 for the members of her family and that when the Texas House of 3-2 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mary 3-3 Beatrice Romani.