SCARBOROUGH – Viola Aliberti Palmacci, 98, of Portland, and later Yarmouth, died on April 15, 2021 at the Maine Veteran’s Home in Scarborough.

Viola was born at Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary on Feb. 22, 1923, daughter of Rosina (Arpaia) Aliberti and Antonio Aliberti. She resided on Deer Street and was educated in Portland grammar

schools. She graduated from Portland High School in 1941 to pursue a career in nursing at Maine Eye and Ear Hospital, earning her diploma in nursing.

Viola entered the Army Nurse Corps in 1941. She served in WWII as a second lieutenant and was stationed in Las Vegas until her discharge in 1946.

Upon returning home to Portland, Viola married her grammar school sweetheart Joseph B. Palmacci of Cotton Street. They were married for 30 years before his death in 1976 at the age of 53. They resided at 96 Hartley St. where they raised five children. Following his death, Viola moved to Yarmouth where she resided happily for 40 years. She loved her family, her friends, her patients, the nursing community and the military community. Her calling, her passion and her joy truly was living a life of service to others. Those who were fortunate to be on the receiving end of “Vi’s service to others, or at her side as a colleague, understood the love and compassion that came with her genuine unconditional caring.

She was a member of the Italian Heritage Club, YMCA, VFW Post, American Legion, Sacred Heart Church in Yarmouth, Yarmouth Historical Society and The Maine Eye and Ear Alumni Organization.

Viola viewed volunteer work as a true source of joy and fulfillment and donated countless hours as a volunteer to several community organizations including USM School of Nursing, Good Cause Thrift Shop, Sacred Heart Church and the Yarmouth Woman’s Health Council.

Viola was a true inspiration and advocate for young woman interested in pursuing a career in nursing and founded the Viola Palmacci University of Southern Maine nursing scholarship fund in support of aspiring nurses.

She was a pioneer for the advancement of nursing in the state of Maine and was in the first graduating class of Family Nurse Practitioners and served in that role as the manager of Student Health Services at the University of Southern Maine from 1963 to 1989. She concurrently served as the Cardiac Rehabilitation nurse for the Heart-Line program as well as the Cardiac Rehabilitation nurse for the Life-Line program. Viola was employed as a full time staff nurse at the Maine Medical Center from 1956 until joining the University of Southern Maine at which time she continued in a part time capacity in the Intensive Care nursery.

Vi’s lifetime professional and community service awards were many but she was most proud of her 1994 Jefferson Award for Public Service as well as the Maine Woman’s Fund Award for transforming the lives of women and girls.

Viola will be best remembered for love of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her love of nursing, her joy in having had the privilege to serve her country and most importantly her faith which was manifested in the countless lives she was able to touch through service to others.

Viola is survived by her four children, Gina Stokes and her husband David of Yarmouth, JoAnn Palmacci and David Pepin of Wells, Jed Palmacci and his wife Bonnie Palmacci of Park City, Utah and Gregory Palmacci of Raymond.

She is also survived by her 15 grandchildren David Stokes Jr. and his wife Ninette of Yarmouth, Jessica Stokes of Yarmouth, Zachary Johnson and wife Arin Montgomery of Baltimore, Charles Benjamin Johnson and wife Stephanie of Portland, Marshall Johnson and wife Kelly Kirshner, Cassie Palmacci Ballinger and husband Wesley of Las Vegas, Siena Palmacci of Salt Lake City, Erika Spera and husband Jim of Houston, Alyssa Palmacci of Portland, Nicholas Palmacci of Dallas, Chelsea Johnson of New York, Brandon Castillo and wife Monica of Sacramento, Calif., Alexander Weisgerber and husband Will of Sacramento Calif., Ryan Castillo Sacramento Calif. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband Joseph “Buster” Palmacci, she was predeceased by her son, Craig Palmacci; and her granddaughters Tammi Lynn Stokes and Reyna Castillo; her brothers Alfonso Aliberti, Henry Aliberti, John Aliberti, Joe Aliberti, Warren Aliberti and sisters Florence Terroni and Mary Aliberti.

Visiting hours will held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20 at Lindquist Funeral Home, 1 Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 21 at Holy Martyrs Church, 266 Foreside Rd., Falmouth. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

Please visit http://www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to sign Viola’s online guest book.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the

Viola Palmacci Nursing Scholarship Fund at the

University of

Southern Maine

96 Falmouth St.

Portland, ME 04103