Erlinda M. Romero passed away peacefully with family at her side on May 12, 2021 at Copper Health Oro Valley. Erlinda or Auntie, as she was known to her family, was a 3rd generation Tucsonan. Her ma grande(grandmother) and pa grande(grandfather), Maria Ana Leonarda Montijo and Jesus Montijo lived in the US Army post of Fort Lowell or "El Fuerte" as it was known. Although there is no actual documentation of Apache leader Geronimo having been at El Fuerte, ma grande told stories of a time when he in fact had been there. Auntie's mother, Ma Yoya, Aurora Romero, was born at El Fuerte on June 1, 1910. Auntie and her fraternal twin sister, Armida Varela, were born in Tucson, Arizona on March 11, 1936.

Auntie was a long-time resident of Winkelman, where she lived with her sister, Carmen (Joe) Estrada and brother-in-law Francisco Nunez(deceased). Auntie helped raise their children Frank Nunez Jr, Kirina (Eddie) Granillo, Christina (Fernando) Ochoa and Hector (Martina) Nunez who treasured her as if she was their mother. She also helped care for some of the grandchildren, Rene, Raymond, Carmen, Frankie, Alejandro and Nico who were a constant in the Nunez household. She was their confidante, oftentimes sneaking them in through the window late at night, also a referee and disciplinarian when they misbehaved. But she had so much love for each and every one of her nephews and nieces, who will miss her dearly, as will the whole family.

Auntie kept an immaculate house and always made sure the kids in the home were scrubbed just as clean, to the point of trying to rub off moles and birthmarks, lol. She loved reading, crossword puzzles, cooking, watching murder mysteries and her D-backs.

Auntie is survived by her sisters Carmen and Armida and brother Enrique "Jimmy" Romero. Numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, mother, brothers Alejandro, Armando and Manuel. Brothers-in-law Pancho and Lini. Sisters-in-law Trini and Gloria. Nephews Eddie and Jimmy and niece Aurora "Yaya"