Nadine Ester Corral Romney Obituary (1945

On the morning of June 27, 2022, Nadine Ester Corral Romney, who was, according to the many people whose lives she touched, already an angel, made the transition from earth to Heaven. Nadine was born on December 7, 1945, to Evelyn Nadine Hughes and Edgar Ramirez Corral in Alhambra, California. At the age of 8 Nadine already knew she was destined to be a teacher. During her freshman year at Brigham Young University, Nadine met the Down’s Syndrome little brother of one of her friends. She recognized the characteristics of his condition but said, “I wasn’t prepared for the instantaneous love that I felt for this child”. Walking back to the library the next day she wondered “Who is his teacher? What kind of school does he attend and what does he learn there? Will he ever learn to read? What happens to these kids as they get older?” Instead of studying for her class she spent the day researching special education and exceptional children. The next morning, she changed her major from elementary education to special education. Following her graduation, Nadine taught school in Los Angeles for two years. She then served a proselyting mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arizona and New Mexico among the Navajo Nation. Upon her return she accepted an offer to teach in Mountain Vale, a small southern Utah town where she continued to instruct special needs children for 16 years. She authored “Those Amazing ‘Tardy’ Kids: What They Taught Their Teacher”, recounting some of her experiences there. Nadine’s love, understanding, and service changed her student’s lives and a number have kept in contact with her throughout the years. Desiring to further her skills and knowledge, Nadine earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Arizona in 1994 with a research dissertation titled “Dealing with Complexity and Ambiguity: The Nature and Influence of Educational Values and Beliefs on Administrative Decision Making”. She then taught school in Orem, Utah for 14 years. During that time, she took under her wing at least two students whom she nurtured and encouraged over the years and supported through college. While living in Spanish Fork, Utah, Nadine made dear, life-long friends and served as Relief Society President and other callings in the Spanish Fork 2nd Ward. Whatever her calling Nadine’s love and support extended to the whole church community. A gifted nature photographer and craftswoman, Nadine created beautiful greeting cards and handmade gifts. After retirement Nadine moved to TreeO, an independent senior living community in Orem. There she met her husband, Gordon Mark Romney. The two fell in love and were married in the Bountiful Utah Temple on March 22, 2017. Gordon passed away on June 4, 2022. Throughout her life, Nadine continued her pattern of loving service to the others. She was compassionate, creative, cheerful, and accepting. She lived the philosophy stated in the preface to her book: “Imagine a world where more of us lived our lives as Tardy kids: wouldn’t the world be a better place for raising all our children if we actually worked at being a little ‘tardy’ in some respects? In such a world … people would actually seek to be slow to judge and criticize others, we would strive to be delayed in seeking revenge or spreading malicious gossip, we would desire to be behind in denigrating others or behaving in prejudicial ways, and we would find joy in being tardy in surrendering the innocent dreams and fragile visions of childhood”. Nadine is survived by her brother Eduardo Corral, her two daughters and sons in law by marriage Virginia Leah Romney and Matthew Montgomery, Kendle Anne Webster and Michael Webster and their children Emery Webster and Alexander Webster as well as her parents in law Gordon and Victoria Romney, siblings in law and spouses Anne Romney, Todd and Lexi Romney, Susan and Berkeley Hanson, Deborah and Bobby Sturgill, Miles and Bonnie Romney, Mindy and Nathan Lee, Spencer and Lisa Romney and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom love Nadine dearly and feel honored that she is part of their family. Nadine will be buried beside her sweetheart in the Midway City Cemetery on June 29, 2022 and honored at a Memorial Service at 10:00 a.m. on July 1, 2022 in the Orem 1st Ward Chapel, 80 South, 280 East, Orem, UT 84097. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.