Patricia Steele Romney passed away December 3, 2024. She was born July 11, 1929 in Idaho Falls to Melbourne and Marcia Steele. The family moved around the country as she was growing up, finally settling in Chevy Chase, Maryland. After attending Brigham Young University for a year, Patricia met Ralph Bradford Romney, the love of her life, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1949. She would say, “I met your dad when I was 19 and he was 22 and a medical resident at George Washington Hospital, and I loved him from the first time I saw him.” Ralph and Patricia would go on to have 9 children, 34 grandchildren, and 96 great grandchildren in a family that has grown to include 178 altogether.

Raising 9 children was an adventure and a life’s work for Patricia. She designed and sewed dresses, cooked vats of chili-ghetti and big pots of lentils, read aloud hundreds of children’s books, and changed thousands of cloth diapers. She especially loved babies and teenagers, she would say, because they were both so interesting. Education was a high priority in the family, and all of her children went to college. She taught her children to be strong, read deeply, think critically, and live an ethical life.

Patricia loved walking in the foothills around her home, gardening (especially her David Austin roses), birdwatching, knitting and sewing, and eating really good ice cream. She loved visiting with her grandchildren and hearing about their lives. Somehow she never forgot any of the little details and, at the next visit, was ready to pick up the conversation where it left off. She was an avid reader, devouring several books a week until the very end. She also loved listening to opera and piano jazz, and she was always aware of the latest fashions. To keep up with the world, she read The New York Times every day and watched C-SPAN. Not one to suffer fools gladly, she always knew what was what.

In her final days, Patricia was able to say good-bye to all of us. We visited with her and reminisced, sang to her, laughed some, and cried some. Near the end, Patricia said to us, “I feel awash in love.” As she was, as she most definitely was.

Patricia will be deeply mourned by her family, including her children Steven Romney (Liz), Lynne Edwards (Hal), Marcia Crofts (John), Karen Clark (Ray), Craig Romney (Holly), Charlotte Howe (Doug), Teresa Walton (Jeff), Christian Romney (Tina), and Peter Romney (Stacey); and many loving and cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Bradford Romney; her dear sister and brother-in-law, Berenice and Gary Theurer; her son-in-law, Hal Edwards; and her parents. A visitation for friends and family will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025, 7:00-8:30 pm at the Grandeur Peak LDS Chapel, 3510 S 3610 E, Salt Lake City. A private family commemoration of her life will follow the next day.

Patricia believed in the power of education. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a scholarship fund of your choice. And hey, go read a book!