Faith C. Romasky, 27, City Year employee, activist

Faith C. Romasky, an employee of City Year and a dedicated volunteer in community activities and mental-health services, died in her sleep Friday. She was 27 and lived in Port Richmond.

Faith was born and raised in Kensington. She attended Ascension of Our Lord School and studied cosmetology at Mercy Vocational High School.

She was a talented vocalist and sang in high school and church.

She began working in 1997 for City Year, the AmeriCorps-funded program that provides young adults with opportunities for public service in major cities.

Through City Year, she volunteered as a teacher's aide in local schools and at the Philadelphia Book Bank.

She got a chance to travel around the country through the program and met President Bill Clinton.

Faith moved to Port Richmond in 2000 and immediately became involved in the community. She worked with Friends of Campbell Square Park, seeking to improve the park at Belgrade Street and Allegheny Avenue.

She helped organize events there.

She also worked with COMHAR (Community Organization for Mental Health and Retardation) at its headquarters on Whitaker Avenue, volunteering in the clerical and food- service units.

She was able to travel again, this time spreading the word about mental-health issues.

"She came up with the sun on November 30th," said her mother, Jacqueline Romasky.

"Faith was a great friend to so many people."

Besides her mother, she is survived by her father, Anthony; grandmother, Jacqueline Eiding; three brothers, Mark, Brian and Anthony, and three sisters, Danielle, Theresa Ann and Beth Ann.

Services: Were held on Wednesday. *