Liliana Clementi

Liliana (Bernardi) Clementi died peacefully on July 3, 2026, at the age of 97, surrounded by her loving family.

The daughter of Vincenzo and Teresa (DiNino) Bernardi, Liliana was born on January 21, 1929 in Corfinio, Italy- a small town nestled in the country’s mountainous Abruzzo region. She was the middle child and eldest daughter. With her father frequently working far from home in American coal mines, she stepped into a leadership role early and was tasked with helping her mother manage the home and care for her siblings. The quiet resilience and work ethic she honed during those early years became the bedrock of her character. As a young woman, her formal education was cut short by the realities of WWII and the German occupation of her town.

After the war, on December 11, 1947, Liliana married the late Sandro ‘Sam’ Clementi. In 1948, seeking new opportunities, they emigrated to the U.S. and established a home in Leominster, Massachusetts- the site of a burgeoning plastics industry. Their family would grow with a son, John Clementi, in 1950 and a daughter, Anna Maria Clementi in 1955.

Liliana worked at Foster Grant in Leominster until 1955, after which she chose to devote her full time and energy to raising their young family. She was a foundational support to Sandro as he developed a successful plastics manufacturing operation that eventually expanded across the United States. Liliana and Sandro shared 60 vibrant years of marriage. They enjoyed regular travels to Ft. Lauderdale in the winter and summers in their native Italy, as well as spending time on Cape Cod. They also traveled to many places across the U.S., Europe and South America.

Throughout her life, Liliana was an avid cook, baker and seamstress. She loved hosting family dinners made completely from scratch, and her home was always a welcome place for impromptu gatherings. Her holiday feasts, enjoyed for decades, were especially meaningful celebrations where it was not unusual to have four generations gather together in her home. In her later years, her greatest joy was spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a vast community of friends and loved ones.

Liliana is survived by her son John Clementi and his wife, Brigita, of Princeton, and a daughter, Anna Maria Clementi of Lunenburg. She leaves six grandchildren, Sara Colangelo (husband, Chris Trujillo), Andrew Colangelo, and Matthew Colangelo (wife, Taylor Colangelo), Erika Van Dam (husband, Jeff Van Dam), Marisa Clementi, and Alex Clementi (wife, Marion Clementi). As a cherished ‘Bisnonna’, she leaves eight great grandchildren: Caroline, Alice, Oscar, Lola, Ray, Celia, Louisa, and Liliana.

She was predeceased by her devoted husband Sandro, her brother Pelino ‘Bill’ Bernardi, and her sister Mary DeCarolis (Bernardi).

Calling hours will be Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 9:15-10:15 a.m. at Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Road, Fitchburg, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. in St. Anna’s Church, 199 Lancaster St., Leominster.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to St. Anna’s School, 194 Lancaster St., Leominster, MA 01453, or to the Simonds-Sinon Regional Cancer Center, 275 Nichols Rd., Fitchburg, MA 01420.