Robert Romero, Jr.

Visitation was held at Pellerin Funeral Home in St. Martinville.

A Rosary was prayed Sunday evening, July 12, 2026.

Father Michael Champagne officiated at the Funeral Mass. Readers were Amy Bergeron Airhart and Dexter Bergeron. Gift Bearers were Kelly Bulliard, Ashley Guirard Landry and Claire Hayes.

Interment followed at St. Michael Mausoleum.

Robert was born in St Martinville, Louisiana to Robert Romero, Sr. and Daisy Dugas Romero on November 25, 1935, as an only child. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Shirley, and his oldest daughter, Yvette Romero Cartwright.

He is survived by his 3 daughters, Keely Romero Guirard (Robert), Elaine Romero Hayes (Steve) and Leslie Romero Bergeron (Dexter); 10 grandchildren, Lacke Bienvenu, Jeff Bienvenu (C.C.), Nicholas Bulliard (Kayla), Kelly Bulliard, Ashley Guirard Landry, Sam Hayes, Claire Hayes, Derek Bergeron (Stacey), Drew Bergeron (Lauren), Amy Bergeron Airhart (Colby); 24 great-grandchildren, two great-greatgrandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Lucille “Tuttie” Billeaud and Aline Oubre.

Robert wore a lot of hats in his time. He served in the Louisiana Army National Guard, including as a certified .30 caliber rifle expert, though he was far more dangerous with a fishing pole in his hand. He was a building contractor by trade and his legacy is literally woven into the St. Martinville landscape through the many homes he built. As the owner and operator of Robert’s Lounge in downtown St. Martinville, his family business since 1947, he welcomed all visitors as friends. By his own account (backed up by anyone who ever fished with him), he was a world-class sac-a-lait fisherman and crawfisherman. He spent just about every day of his adult life in the basin with his dad or with Tony, who was like the son he never had.

Robert, also known as Bobby, Baby, Daddy, Pop and PopPop, was the life of the party. To know him was to know kindness, laughter, and conversation, usually all three at once, and usually louder than necessary. He never met a stranger, and on the rare occasion he did, they didn’t stay a stranger for long. He loved telling stories and jokes, and he never once let the fact that you’d heard a joke a dozen times stop him from telling it a thirteenth. More often than not, he was laughing at his own punchline before anyone else. Those conversations, those laughs, and those memories as well as his boundless kindness and humor left an indelible mark on the St. Martinville community.

Above all, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He’s finally reunited with his bride, Shirley Romero, whom he loved and missed so much. There will never be another Robert Romero, Jr. His legacy lives on in the stories we tell, the jokes we repeat (badly, without his timing), and the memories shared by generations of people lucky enough to have known him. He will be greatly missed.

Pallbearers were his grandsons, Lacke Bienvenu, Jeff Bienvenu, Nicholas Bulliard, Sam Hayes, Derek Bergeron and Drew Bergeron.

Honorary pallbearers were hid great-grandsons, Keagan Bienvenu, Austin Bienvenu, Landon Bienvenu and Kayden Bulliard.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Acadiana and all his caretakers who showed such compassion during this difficult time.

Pellerin Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.