Irene Romano

South Bound Brook- Irene Romano, 97, died peacefully at home on Thursday, September 14, 2023. Daughter of the late Anthony and Stefka Mielnicki, Irene was the last of 8 children. Born in Bound Brook, she resided most of her life in South Bound Brook. Irene was  the first woman to be hired at John’s Manville during WWII. She also worked over the course of her life at the Brook Theater, Union Carbide, and Marriot. Irene was a sweet and gentle lady and always welcomed everyone with a warm smile. She enjoyed good food, drink and music; taking trips to the casinos; traveling and taking trips to Florida; going to Monmouth Park Race Track, especially, when her nieces horses were running in a race; and most importantly, being with her cherished family. She will always be loved and missed and remembered for being an extraordinary woman and for her famous line, “You wanna make a wager ?”. In 2016, Irene registered to vote for the very first time.  Irene was predeceased by her husband, Cosmo D. Romano; daughter, Barbara Bukowski; and siblings, Dorothy Peltack, Charles Mielnicki, Edward Mielnicki, Frank Mielnicki, Tessie Domanski, Mary Petrock and Helen Chudy. She is survived by her children, Jeanne Renda (Vincent) of Whitehouse Station, Patricia Evans of Vero Beach, FL, George “Rusty” Evans (Lori) of Vero Beach, FL; grandchildren, Michelle Gill (Jimmy), Vincent Renda, Brian Renda, Kaylyn Evans (Jarrod Goodman); great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Cooper, Sophie May, Brooke, Lidia; and many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held from 9AM- 10:30AM with a funeral service beginning at 10:30AM on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at the Bridgewater Funeral Home, 707 East Main Street, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.  Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Piscataway. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors or the ASPCA.

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