Marilyn Lucille Ross, 94

Fifteen days and 11 minutes, that is how long Mom was away from Dad.

On a peaceful Monday morning on March 31, 2025, Marilyn Lucille Ross (Romaneski) joined her husband, John Ross III (Johnny Boy) of 77 years, by completing her circle of life. Dad completed his circle of life on March 16, 2025. For eternity she is with Dad and her parents, Roy and Lois Romaneski; her son, Alan Ross and her grandson, Ross Tello. All of whom she loved dearly.

Mom was born on a beautiful Monday morning on October 23, 1930, in Montesano, Washington. The Romaneski family, mom with her three sisters and one brother, eventually moved to Tacoma where she met Johnny Boy Ross, a third-generation member of Gig Harbor, fell in love and married on June 26th, 1948, in Tacoma at St. Leo’s Church. Apart from one year in Bellingham, Washington, Mom and Dad lived in Gig Harbor for 76 years where they raised a family of three sons and one daughter, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Family functions and events along with food were a very large part of Mom’s life. She never forgot a birthday; she was known as the “cookie grandma”; every season she would can peaches, pears, and make relish, which was used in her well known 1000 island dressing. She would make wild blackberry jam from berries that either Dick Kauppila or Sharon Snuffin picked but would never divulge where they picked the berries. Fresh strawberry, marionberry and raspberry jams were all a part of Mom’s seasonal jarring. Mom’s specialty though were her pies: apple, berry, fresh lemon, peach…all were delicious.

These desserts would accompany our Sunday family dinners that began as long as there have been Sundays. Spaghetti sauce was made every Sunday by Gramma Ross until her passing in 1999, then Mom took over the sauce duties. Each and every Sunday, you would find the Ross family gathered at Mom and Dad’s, eating, talking and laughing. Her desserts were part of the family and friend dinners during Thanksgiving and the Christmas Eve shrimp salad dinner that featured her homemade 1000 Island dressing.

Mom and Dad were indeed life partners. They did what they needed to do for the family. While in Bellingham, Mom worked at the local fish cannery while Dad worked at the pop factory. After moving back to Gig Harbor, she worked at the Ben Franklin store, cleaned newly built homes with her dear friend Pat Bujacich to make extra money, all the while taking care of the family. After Dad got into real estate and opened his own office, she would become his office manager for many years.

When her dear friend and Johnny Boy’s first cousin, Jake Bujacich, decided to run for Pierce County Commissioner, she was his campaign manager, and they successfully won the election against the incumbent.

Mom and Dad loved to travel. They loved golf. Their days on the course at the Gig Harbor Golf Club and off the course at the Club were times they both cherished.

These final years of Mom’s life were not easy years. She was Dad’s caretaker for years before his moving into memory care where she visited and cared for him on a daily basis. This all took a toll on Mom though she would never admit it. Then, this past December, Mom was diagnosed with a very rare, terminal cancer. She was never in pain. As she knew her circle of life was drawing near, she said “it’s been a very good life all in all. I have been very blessed.”

As a friend of the family said, Marilyn was such “a big character in many people’s lives. Her love and dedication to the people she cared for was fierce and unbreakable.”

The Ross family: Danny, Deb, Marc, Virginia, Susie, Gonzalo and grand kids, John, Aly, Shannon, Brady, Diana, Charley, Jason, Markee, and Lucy would like to announce that there will be a Circle of Life gathering for Mom and Dad on Saturday, June 28th at 3608 and 3600 Rosedale St in Gig Harbor beginning at 3 pm. A private graveside service will be held at Haven of Rest on June 26th, the 77th anniversary date of Mom and Dad’s marriage. We are also forever in debt for the care the angels from Hummingbirds Home Care Services provided to mom.

In lieu of flowers, the Ross Family would be honored to have you donate to the: WSU Ross Tello Strategic Communications Courage Scholarship.

Our family, along with so many incredible friends and relatives, are grateful to have had such a long time with Johnny Boy and Marilyn and we are even more grateful to know that they are at peace, in each other’s arms and holding hands, yet again.