Family and friends will celebrate the life of Kathleen (Kate) Foley Romani, a lifelong summer resident of Groton Long Point, CT and a year-round resident of Bloomington and Frankfort, Illinois. Kate passed on Sunday, May 3, 2015 after fighting cancer.
She was born on October 12, 1946 in Bridgeport to Kevin and Kathleen Foley (both deceased) and moved to Willimantic as a child. She graduated from Windham High School in Willimantic, CT, earned her undergraduate degree from Rosemont College in Pennsylvania, and her graduate degree from The New School in New York City, NY. After graduation from college, Kate worked for a commercial bank in New York City until she met and married her husand of 39 years, Mel Romani. In 1976, Mel carried Kate away to Illinois, where she would live for the next three decades.
Kate's career in Illinois began at the Illinois Wesleyan University, where she established and directed a Career Center for undergraduates. At Illinois Wesleyan University, Kate was able to further her passion for the arts and literature by organizing writing seminars and workshops that included many of her favorite published authors. After 7 years, she left the university and moved to Frankfort, Illinois where she took up stained glass making. For several years, she made and sold stained glass pieces on commission.
Kate loved Frankfort and was active in village business, historical preservation and politics. She served as the Director of the Frankfort Mainstreet Preservation Alliance, which was part of a movement funded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to revitalize historic downtowns and commercial districts. In 2005, Kate ran for Village Clerk and was elected in a landslide, carrying on her coattails a new Mayor.
In 2008,Kate retired from local politics and moved back to Connecticut. Retirement, however, did not slow Kate down. She remained active, particularly in volunteer work. Throughout her life, Kate generously volunteered her time to charitable efforts on behalf of a variety of organizations including the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, and the Mystic Library.
Kate was committed to a holistic lifestyle ~ she practiced yoga and attained Reikki certification.
She will be remembered as a beautiful, talented, kind, loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend who always gave unselfishly to others. Kate is survived by her husband Mel, her sons Christopher and Patrick and her stepsons and their families, Richard, Cam, Jacob and Julianna, and Timothy, Angela, Alyssa and Carly. She is predeceased by her sister, Joan Millsom.
Her family will greet relatives and friends at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic, CT on Monday May 11 from 5 to 7pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday May 12 at 11:00am at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church, 69 Groton Long Point Road, Groton, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kate's memory to a charity of choice.
To share a message of condolence or remembrance with her family, please click the link below.