Roma Joan Singell

"I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It's going to be a bright, bright sunshiny day." Song by Jimmy Cliff

Roma Joan Singell passed away May 3, 2024, in Santa Barbara, CA at 90 years of age. Roma was a beloved mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Roma was the third child born to Joseph and Frances Singell in Cleveland, OH in 1933. She later became the older sister of six more siblings. Roma was a good student who loved to read. Reading allowed Roma to travel to other places without leaving her home. As a teen Roma dropped out of school and got a job to help support her large family. She was on her way home from this job when she met Dominic Bulone. In 1950, at the age of 17, Roma and Dominic married and started a new life together.

In 1953, Roma and Dominic moved from Cleveland to Anaheim, CA with their two children. In the years to follow they had three more children. Roma still loved to read and loved learning new things. She learned to cook and was quite good at it. In 1963, tragedy struck the family, Dominic died of leukemia leaving Roma alone to raise five children. She watched the neighbor’s children and took in ironing to help make ends meet. She married Rego Bulone in 1964 and added two more children to the family. Education was always important to Roma. She never stopped learning. In 1970, she got her high school diploma by attending class for adults at the local high school. 

In 1976 her marriage ended, and Roma was once again faced with new challenges. She set off on a course to protect her family by becoming self-sufficient. She returned to school at Orange Coast College getting her Associate of Science Degree and EEG Certification. In 1982, she went to work for a neurologist, often performing EEGs during surgeries at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. Once her children had grown, she sold her home in Anaheim and moved to Orange, CA. She had a brief third marriage to George Ramage, during which she was able to travel to some of the places she had read about in books as a child. She found she had a passion for travel not only in books but in person as well. 

In 1992, Roma seized the opportunity to take a job in Santa Barbara, CA as an EEG Technician at Cottage Hospital. She loved everything about living in Santa Barbara. In the mid 1990’s Roma moved into The Edgerly, off State Street. She loved walking through downtown, going to movies, riding the trolley and experiencing all the city had to offer. She was a regular attendee of the Santa Barbara Film Festival.  She showed off her “hometown” to family and friends that would come to visit.

In 2000, after much study, Roma converted to Judaism. Just as she found a home in Santa Barbara, she also found a home in the Jewish Faith. She had been an active member of Congregation B’nai Brith. She attended Torah Study and many of the services at the temple. She was able to travel to Israel and Poland. She took a cruise, with family, to Alaska. In 2017, at the age of 84, she stopped working as an EEG Technician, but she didn’t stop learning. She began to play Mahjong. Despite increasing health problems Roma lived her life to the fullest, doing the things she loved, right up to the end.

Roma leaves behind her children, Wendy Kieffer (Robert Trattler), Tim Bulone (Susan Chaney), Chris (Beth) Bulone, Monica (Bob) Schwaniger; one sister, Carol Miller; 14 well loved grandchildren (11 spouses of grandchildren); three great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; countless friends; and lifelong friend Gloria Rockwood. Roma has gone to be with her first husband, Dominic Bulone; her children, Thom (Theresa) Bulone, Vince Bulone, Teresa Dominic (John East). She was also preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Retha Blocher, Violet Hnanicek, David Singell, Larry Singell, Joel Singell, Dan Singell, and Timothy Singell.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate and remember Roma Singell at 11:00 am at the current home of Congregation B’nai Brith, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, 909 N. La Cumbre Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93110.