Obituary: Marian Romanoski

Marian Romanoski

Fargo, N.D.

Marian Diane (Simon) Romanoski, 71, passed away Saturday morning January 7, 2023, at Essentia Health Fargo, surrounded by her children and loved ones after many months of illness.

Visitation was held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, followed by a Prayer Service at 7 p.m., all at West Funeral Home, West Fargo, N.D.

Funeral Mass was held at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church, Fargo at 2 p.m. on Friday January 13. Marian will be laid to rest next to parents at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in New Rockford, N.D., later this spring.

Marian was born in New Rockford, N.D. on May 20, 1951, to David and Eileen (Settelmeyer) Simon, the eldest of their four children. She attended 12 years of school at and graduated from St. James Academy in New Rockford in 1969. Following her graduation Marian attended what is now The University of Mary in Bismarck pursuing her desire to help and heal people, graduating with her Bachelor's degree in Nursing in 1973. She began her career as a nurse at St. Alexis Hospital in Bismarck, but returned home to New Rockford in 1974 to marry Craig Romanoski for 11 years, start a family, and continue her nursing career both at City Hospital and The Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd both in New Rockford. In 1976 she was delighted to become a mother when Valerie was born and then in 1982, Christopher was added to the family through adoption. In 2000, Marian was asked to join the inaugural staff of what is now Essentia Health in Fargo, taking great pride in the development of programs for the employees and services provided to the community. She finished her nursing career at the VA Medical Center in Fargo, being asked to develop their MRSA infection control program. Marian retired from nursing in 2016, but didn't leave patient care as she continued to work part-time as a switch board operator for Essentia Health until a couple of months prior to her death.

Above all Marian was God and Family first. Marian was an active member of St. John's Catholic church in New Rockford, and then following her move to Fargo at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church in Fargo. Her children and later her grandchildren were her reason to keep going up until the last moments of her life.

Through the years you would find Marian hosting epic sleep overs, leading a Girl Scout troop meeting, attending any number of various ball games or even reading a book out loud as several students sat in her living room to get though an English assignment. She was a die-hard Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan suffering through many disappointing seasons, but always had hope for the following year. She enjoyed lake season with family and could usually be found sitting on the deck reading a good book or solving puzzles. She was present for each and every family event or activity in which her children or grandchildren were involved. Marian was known for putting others' needs ahead of her own and always went out of her way to help those who were struggling or in need.

She is survived by her daughter Valerie (Rilwan Afinni) Romanoski of Blaine Minn., and son Christopher (Katherine) Romanoski of Eden Valley, Minn., her three beautiful grandchildren, Necia, Darian and Amaya Afinni; her Chosen-daughter Dawn (Jeff) Ramsey of Moorhead, Minn., five Chosen-grandchildren Iziah Anderson, Areana Leedahl, Maliek Leedahl, Makhi Leedahl and Alysia Leedahl, and one Chosen great-granddaughter Teegan Leedahl. Also by two sisters Kathy Stenehjem and Barbara Meyer of Bismarck, N.D., brother Art (Deanna) Simon of Lake Stevens, Wash.; her ex-husband, Craig Romanoski of Las Vegas, Nev., her former in-laws Linda (Dale) Neil, Steve (Charmaine) Romanoski, Randy (Rita) Romanoski, Julie Danduran (Jeff Pepple), Laurie (Dennis) Ball and Jeff (Melanie) Romanoski, and many nieces and nephews, cousins and close friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents David and Eileen Simon, her in-laws Bill and Mary Romanoski, as well as a Chosen-granddaughter JoHanna Leedahl, many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

Arrangements by West Funeral Home and Life Tribute Center, West Fargo, N.D.