LAFAYETTE ~ Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 31, 2015 at a 2:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Word Service in Evangeline Memorial Gardens Chapel in Carencro for Joseph Willis Romero, age 82, who passed away Monday, December 28, 2015 at Military Hospital in Fork Polk.

Mr. Romero was a native of Youngsville and a resident of Lafayette since he was eighteen years old. He was currently employed with Express Courier. He was a parishioner of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church and a member of the American Legion. Mr. Romero was a veteran of the military having served in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1955-1961.

Survivors include his lovely wife of sixty-two years, Mary Virginia "Racca" Romero of Lafayette; three daughters, Rebecca Vernado and her husband, Carl "Monkey", Cynthia Fritz and her husband, Greg, Bobbie "BJ" Begnaud and her husband, Coby; one son, Steve Romero and his wife, Liz; one daughter-in-law, Becky Romero; fourteen grandchildren, Andrew Falcon and his wife, Lacey, Misty Falcon, Desiree'' Savoie, April Ebeling and her husband, Bryan, Steven John Romero and his wife, Kimberly, Eric Savoie, Jacque Fritz, Christy Romero, Krystal Rushing and her husband, Shane, Chance Romero, Brooke Broussard, Kymber Fritz, Taylor Begnaud and Caine Fritz; twenty-one great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Simon and Elize (Boutte) Romero; two children, John Romero and Glenda Romero; four siblings, Audrey Lavergne, Willie "Rome" Romero, Lee Roy Romero and John LeBlanc; and one great granddaughter, Gracey Rushing.

A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday and will continue from 8:00 a.m. until service time on Thursday.

Pallbearers will be his six grandsons, Andrew Falcon, Steven John Romero, Eric Savoie, Jacque Fritz, Chance Romero and Caine Fritz.

Melancon Funeral Home, Evangeline Memorial Gardens Chapel, 4117 N. University Ave., Carencro, (337) 896-3232, is in charge of arrangements.