Obituary of Elizabeth Anne Palmieri
Elizabeth (Liz) Anne Palmieri
(née Young)
May 5, 1951 – September 1, 2024
It is with profound sadness we share that, after 2-years with Leukemia, Liz Palmieri passed away on September 1, 2024 surrounded by her family at Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton.
Liz was a force, an astounding woman who changed the fabric of Niagara through her gentle leadership. Liz brought her incredible depth of intelligence, her thoughtful and caring nature to all she did, which was equally met by her playful sense of humour and love of her family and community. Any person who had the pleasure of coming into Liz’s path was changed for the better.
Liz was a loving wife of 53 years to Adrian, a devoted mother to Mike, Kate and Sara (Sheldon), and a loving grandmother to Ryan and step-grandmother to Declan. She was a sister to Adrienne Fasullo and Cathy Goodale-Jarmak, sister-in-law to Angelo and Nicol Palmieri, Lou and Maria Montana, Arnie Jarmak and Sam Fasullo, and aunt to Sammy, Tony, Liv, Ava, Joe, Vanessa, Lisa and Simon. She had many incredible longtime friends including a 40+ year friendship with Mike & Connie, Bill & Jean, Herb & Lynn, Trevor & Heather, and Bruce & Carol. Liz is predeceased by her parents Joan and Arthur Young and her in-laws Gilda and Antonino Palmieri.
Liz was born in Vancouver and grew up in Toronto and Burlington. She attended Mohawk College and graduated in 1970 as one of only three women in the first graduating class of Computer Sciences. It was at Mohawk College in 1969 where Liz and Adrian fell in love, and they were married shortly after in 1971.
Liz and Adrian made their way to St. Catharines in 1977 to open the first independent bookstore in the downtown, The Bookworks. After its closing in 1982, Liz began working for not-for-profits, first as the Executive Director for the St. Catharines YWCA (1983-85), then as the Administrative Director for the Niagara Artists Centre (1987-1990) and as the Administrative Director for Carousel Players (1990-97). In 1997, Liz started working for the Niagara College Foundation and it was there that she found her passion for community building through philanthropy. In 2000, Liz was named the founding Executive Director of the Niagara Community Foundation until her retirement in 2016.
Under her leadership the Foundation grew from an initial $200,000 endowment to almost $50 million. During her tenure, the Niagara Community Foundation granted over $8 million to charities providing programs and services in all sectors.
After her retirement, Liz began consulting internationally in the non-for-profit sector in the fields of governance, philanthropy, and the development of strategic plans. A highlight, in 2018 she delivered seven weeks of training in governance, best practices and philanthropy to community foundations throughout New Zealand.
Liz was presented with an Honorary Doctorate in 2016 from Brock University in recognition of her community and philanthropic leadership in Niagara. Liz was a president and two-time Paul Harris Fellow with the Rotary Club of St. Catharines, a passionate chorister and president of Chorus Niagara, and volunteered with countless organizations in the Niagara region and beyond.
Liz lovingly supported her longtime friends, her community, and the crew of her children’s friends for whom she cared for as her own. Liz appreciated the opportunities she had to travel around the world, to enjoy a diversity of arts and culture, and she greatly cherished long drives around Niagara and beyond with her beloved partner Adrian. She was a North Star to so many who will continue to look to her light for guidance.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the incredible care team at the Juravinski Cancer Centre and to all who cared for Liz, and reached out over the last two years, including her many friends and extended family.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 11am, 250 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, L2R 3M2. Visit www.firstontariopac.ca or call 905-688-0722 to reserve your tickets.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to honour Liz’s legacy to The Palmieri Family Fund with the Niagara Community Foundation https://niagaracommunityfoundation.org/palmieri-family-fund/ or to the Juravinski Cancer Centre Foundation
