Dorothy C. Romson's Obituary
Dorothy Anne Cochran Romson, of Kihei, Maui, Hawaii passed away on 15 July 2015. She completed her 93 year stay on Earth at Hale Makua in Wailuku, Hawaii.
Dorothy was born in Tabriz, Persia (now Iran) to Joseph P. and Bernice Gregg Cochran on 23 November 1921. The daughter of fifth generation Presbyterian Medical Missionaries, she grew up in Tabriz. She was educated in Persia, Switzerland and the United States. She was awarded undergraduate and Nursing degrees from Universities in Minnesota.
Dorothy returned to Tabriz to teach nursing to Persian students in her Father’s hospital. It was there that she met her future husband Tomic T. Romson, who was, at the time, the Superintendent (Administrator) of the Mission hospital.
Together they came to the US, after a short stay at the American University of Beirut, to devote their lives to Medicine and Service. Dorothy had several nursing jobs while in Minnesota and also gave birth to both of her sons (Edward and Joseph) during that time.
In 1960 the family moved to Maui, Hawaii and established residence; first in Maalaea and then, in 1964, in Kihei. Also in 1964, Dorothy started work at Hale Makua as the Staff Dietician. She then moved on to the nursing staff and rose to be the Head of Nursing before retiring in 1984. She continued to serve even in retirement; she volunteered at Hale Makua from 1992 to 2008.
Dorothy was active in the community as well. She was a founding member and, at times, an elected officer of the Maui Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, an international women's social, cultural and service organization. She also volunteered at the Kihei Branch Public Library for many years until she moved to the nursing home in 2014.
Dorothy joins those family members who have gone before her; her father, Joseph Plumb Cochran, mother, Bernice Gregg Cochran, sister, Mary Cochran Moulton and her husband, Tomic T. Romson. She is survived by her sisters, Kathrine (Kitty) Cochran Moore and Jean Cochran Evans, and her sons Edward H. Romson; his wife Delayne Romson, and Joseph L. Romson and his fiancée Ciara Carter.
Joe and Ed and their partners were able to spend almost every morning with Dorothy during the last six months of her life. She was lucid enough to enjoy hearing mystery novels read to her and the circle of life continued as she very much enjoyed mangoes eating every meal from the trees she nurtured in her yard for 40 years.
A Memorial service will be held at Wailuku Union Church, 327 S High St, Wailuku, Hawaii on Tuesday, 28 July 2015. The Family will hold visitation at 6:00pm with a memorial service starting at 7:00pm. Nakamura Mortuary is handling the funeral arrangements.
Charitable donations in memory of Dorothy are appreciated in lieu of flowers. She would be pleased to know that your donation in her name went to Hale Makua Health Services
1540 Lower Main Street
Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone 808.243.1722
Online at http://halemakua.org/support-us
The family would like to sincerely thank the kind staff of Hale Makua for their loving care of our Mother over the past year. She did come full circle, working and volunteering at a place she loved, to be expertly cared for until her last breath by all of her family at Hale Makua, some of whom she had taught and worked with. A Plumeria tree will be planted at the Wailuku Hale Makua facility in her honor; a lasting tribute to a wonderful Mother, nurse, leader and a very strong woman.
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