May 24, 1929 – September 22, 2026
Susan Romero
Susan Ansula Romero, 97, passed away on September 22, 2026, in Edmonds, Washington, surrounded by her family and loving caregivers.
Susan was born May 24, 1929, in Bais City, Negros Oriental, Philippines. After marrying her husband, Joe, in 1966, she made the courageous journey to Ketchikan, Alaska, in 1967, having never before left the Philippines. Ketchikan became her home and the place where she would raise her family and build a life filled with faith, friendship, service, and community.
After Joe’s death in 1972, Susan raised her two young daughters while also helping care for five older stepchildren. Having arrived in America only five years earlier, she faced life as a single mother with remarkable strength, determination, faith, and devotion to family.
Over the years, Susan worked as a CNA at Ketchikan General Hospital, taught sewing and cooking at the University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan campus, briefly worked as a cook at the Ketchikan Correctional Center, and later worked as head baker for the Ketchikan School District.
Susan was a longtime member of Holy Name Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir. She was active in Ketchikan’s Filipino community, performing and teaching Filipino dance, and generously volunteered her time with numerous community organizations. Her volunteer work included the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, Ketchikan Homeless Shelter, Regional Youth Center, and Women in Safe Homes. Helping others was simply part of who Susan was.
Susan was also an extraordinary baker. She was known for her homemade donuts, breads, and cinnamon rolls—especially the cinnamon roll wreaths she made every Christmas. Her recipes were famously difficult to duplicate because she rarely measured anything: a pinch of this, a dash of that, and “just mix it until it’s done.” Her granddaughter Kenzi has since mastered Grandma Susan’s dough, carrying on one of her most treasured family traditions.
Outside of her work and community involvement, Susan found her greatest joy in the simple things she loved most—family, cooking, music, dancing, and fishing. One of her favorite places was Mountain Point in Ketchikan, where she loved casting from the rocks. Above all, she cherished her family and was especially proud of her grandchildren. She loved spending time with them, whether they were playing games, baking together, learning to make lumpia, or simply enjoying each other’s company. She was a phenomenal grandmother.
Susan also made sure that the story of her remarkable life would live on. In 2007, she wrote her memoir, Traveling in Time From the Philippines to Alaska, chronicling her journey and the many experiences that shaped her life. Her story of perseverance and triumph is a priceless gift to her family and a lasting legacy for generations to come.
In 2018, Susan moved to the Seattle area to live with her daughter Rose and be closer to family. Those years brought countless special memories—holidays together, cooking and baking, dancing in the kitchen to music from the 1950s, and precious time with her children and grandchildren.
For five years, Susan was blessed to have the loving care and companionship of Sharon Olson, who became much more than a caregiver—she became a dear and treasured family friend. Susan’s family will always be grateful for Sharon’s kindness, devotion, and the special bond she shared with Susan.
During the final year and a half of her life, Susan was lovingly cared for at Helen Loving Care Adult Family Home in Edmonds, owned by Neghisti Bahta. Her family is deeply grateful to Neghisti and her wonderful staff for the extraordinary love, compassion, and care they gave Susan and for truly making her feel at home. They became an important part of Susan’s life and of her family.
Helen Loving Care also became a special place for Rose, who spent Saturdays there for the past year and a half teaching exercise classes to Susan and the other residents. Those Saturday mornings became a treasured tradition and an opportunity not only to spend time with her mom, but also to form wonderful relationships with the other residents and caregivers.
Susan’s family will always be grateful to Sharon, Neghisti, and the entire Helen Loving Care family for the love they gave Susan and for the many special memories they helped create with her.
Susan was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, as well as her parents and many of her siblings in the Philippines. She is survived by her daughters, Sue and Rose; stepdaughters, Elizabeth and Josephine; grandchildren, Nik, Kenzi, and Tia; her sister in the Philippines, Norma; and many extended family members and dear friends.
Susan’s 97 years were a remarkable story of perseverance, faith, family, generosity, and love. She was strong, determined, selfless, faithful, loving, talented, and funny—a beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend whose influence will live on through the family she loved so dearly.
After a long and remarkable journey, Susan is finally at rest, leaving behind a lifetime of memories and a legacy of love that her family will carry with them always.