Paula Romeo

Paula Romeo, age 75, passed away peacefully at home with her husband by her side on June 15, 2026, after a courageous battle of Lung Cancer. Born on October 2, 1950, two minutes after her twin brother Peter (Pete) in Red Bank, NJ to parents Joseph Romeo, Sr. and Susan Rebecca Bruce Romeo. Joined Joseph Romeo, Jr and Susan Maria Romeo Coberg to complete the family.

Paula grew up in Middletown Township, graduating from MTHS in 1969. She worked as a Fingerprint Technician at the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, DC., Fingerprint Technician at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau, and Administrative Professional in various departments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Paula met Victor in 1986, and would live together from 1987 on. She married Victor W. Emanuel on January 6, 2009 on Smather’s Beach in Key West, FL. (so Victor would not get “cold feet”). Their wedding bands were then designed by Victor.

She Graduated from Madison Area Technical College in 2013 with an Administrative Professional two-year degree. She was proud to have been a member of Phi Theta Kappa honors society. American Red Cross blood donor from 1972 to 2025, making 255 donations, one pint short of the Thirty Two Gallon Club.

Amateur Radio license: KB9MAJ (now a Silent Key). Paula became vegetarian in 1985 and vegan in 2011, supporting animal rights organization. Proudly joined Freedom From Religion Foundation as a supporter of separation of church and government.

Along with Victor she bicycled week long rides in WI (GRABAAWR and SAGBRAW). They did RAGBRAI bicycle across Iowa three times with Powered by Plants Vegan Bicycling Team. Her first tattoo was “Powered by Plants” and her second was a heart with a green stem symbolizing veganism.

She leaves behind her loving husband Victor W. Emanuel, twin brother Pete (Denver, PA.) Nieces Tina Coberg (Denver, PA), Tammy Knapp (NJ), brother in law Arthur Coberg (Denver, PA), Aunt Barbara Jean Payne, cousins Robin and John, sister-in-law Dawn Romeo, sister-in-law Elizabeth Burk and brother-in-law Robert Emanuel. Loving friends of over 45 years: Lori Caygill, Susan Adams, Gary Sparks, Ken Solem, Sondra Watkins.

She is predeceased by Parents Joseph and Susan; sister Marie; brother Joseph and godmother Yolanda Evans.

She and Victor shared their hearts with companion fur babies felines: Cooper, Cayenne, Snuggles, Big Tom, Little Tom, Bright Eyes, Fella, and Drifter.

She volunteered at WHA-TV, public television in the Madison area, Gilda’s Club Wisconsin, various community events.

Paula will be cremated and will be Interred at Maiden Rock Cemetery, Maiden Rock, WI at a later date. A Celebration of Life will be held within a few weeks.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to her favorite charities:

PCRM - Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine;

SPLC - Southern Poverty Law Center;

Gilda’s Club of Wisconsin;

FFRF - Freedom From Religion Foundation;

ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union.

She so fiercely abhorred Trump, she started a mantra to outlive the criminal.

Paula and her family would like to thank Agrace, the hospice in Fitchburg WI for their assistance in allowing Paula to stay in the home she loved until her time came.

Paula’s final quote, at the end of every email, and now the end of her obituary is this:

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.