Submitted by: Dan Rich
Venera Verteramo
SOUTH BEND, IN - Mrs. Venera “Alfreda”
Verteramo, 87, passed away following an illness on Tuesday,
Dec. 26, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was
born on April 28, 1919, in Brooklyn, NY, to Domenico and Maria
“Carmela” (Fimognari) Parisi. At age six
she moved to southern Italy and returned here with her family to
South Bend on July 7, 1966. She married Armando Antonio Verteramo
in Locri, Reggio Calabria, Italy, on February 11, 1939. He passed
away on November 26, 1986.
Survivors include a daughter, Marisa C. (Salvatore) Marcello;
three sons, Francesco (Vikkie) Verteramo, Warren (Linda)
Verteramo, all of South Bend, and Alberto (Jeannie) Verteramo of
Granger; a sister, Maria Schirripa of South Bend; 14
grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Two brothers preceded
her in death, Gilormo “Jim” Parisi and Castigliano
Parisi.
A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday
at 10:00 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church. corner of Hill and
LaSalle, with Rev. Thomas J. Jones, CSC, officiating. Burial will
follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 4 to
8 p.m. in the McGann Hay University Chapel, 2313 E. Edison at
Ironwood, where the Holy Rosary will be prayed at 4:30 p.m.
Mrs. Verteramo was a member of St. Joseph Parish. She was the
kind of person whose smile and generosity became contagious to
those whose lives she touched. Her life was complete with her
devoted family. She was always the first to offer advice and
wisdom to her grandchildren from her own life experiences, and
brought laughter to her family by sharing the old “Italian
Wisdom.” She enjoyed her many hours walking outdoors,
getting her hair done, feeding the birds, and caring for her
cats. Venera was blessed with wonderful neighbors who were there
for her with friendship, kindness and help when she needed it.
She was always comforted by her religion and appreciated all of
the prayers on her behalf, especially in her times of illness.
Even in her worst of times, she prayed the Rosary not just for
her and her family, but also for everyone in need. She was loved
by all who knew her, and will be missed dearly.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Parish, to The
American Heart Association or to The National Kidney Foundation.