Venerina "Nina" Palmieri

Venerina "Nina" Palmieri, daughter of the late John and Mary Ferrera of Leominster, passed away peacefully at the Leominster Life Care Center.

A lifelong resident of Leominster, Nina graduated from Leominster High School with the Class of 1954 and went on to earn her registered nursing degree from the Leominster Hospital School of Nursing. During her career, she worked in the maternity ward at Leominster Hospital, at the former Keystone Nursing Home, and as a traveling nurse for several insurance companies. She spent the final 15 years of her career as a nurse for the Leominster Public Schools, retiring in 2001. Even after retirement, she continued serving the school system as a substitute nurse until 2020 at age 83.

In 1959, Nina married the love of her life, Rocco Palmieri, at St. Anna Church in Leominster. Together, they shared 66 wonderful years of marriage and raised their family.

Nina had a lifelong passion for knitting, a talent she learned from her mother. Her hands were rarely still as she created countless sweaters, baby mittens, hats, scarves, and beautiful afghans for family, friends, and neighbors. She enjoyed spending weekends at local craft fairs, especially church craft fairs, where she shared her handmade creations with others. Always on the lookout for a bargain, she could never pass up a good yarn sale. Nina was also actively involved with the Leominster High School Class of 1954 reunion committee and looked forward to helping organize their annual reunions.

Nina was predeceased by her beloved husband of 66 years, Rocco Palmieri, who passed away in 2025, and by her son-in-law, Jeffrey Sargent.

She leaves her loving children, Anthony Palmieri and his wife, Lori; Daniel Palmieri and his wife, Megan; and Susan Sargent; her brothers, John and James Ferrera; seven grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who will miss her deeply.

Funeral services and burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in Nina's memory.