Mildred "Milly" (Perfetti) Venardi

Mildred “Milly” Venardi, 95, passed away peacefully in her sleep at 12:30 a.m. on Friday, December 29, 2017 at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, TN.

She was born November 3, 1922 in Clinton, Indiana to Domenic and Maria (Bianconi) Perfetti.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Clinton, and the Catholic Women’s Club.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry “Reco” Venardi (Nov. 5, 1984), son Tony Venardi (Nov, 7, 2014), her parents, 3 brothers, Lawrence Perfetti, Aldo Perfetti, Angelo Perfetti; 5 sisters, Anna Stella, Beata Grotti, Mary Lenzi, Virginia Wilson, Lena Grotti.

She was the youngest of 9 children of Italian immigrants of Modena Italy. She was taught and practiced the meaning of hard work, gratitude, and unselfishness.

She married Henry “Reco” Venardi on March 24, 1945.  She resided in Centenary in the same wonderful community and in the same warm, loving home for over 70 years.

Mildred retired in 1989 from South Vermillion School Corporation where she was a cafeteria cook at Van Duyn Elementary School for 20 years.  While at Van Duyn, she was blessed with life-long friendships with co-workers, teachers, and staff.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt.  Most important in her life were God, her faith and church, and her family and friends.  She loved to cook, always making sure that everyone had enough to eat.  She was always concerned about the well-being of others and saw the good in everyone.

She moved to Bristol in 2015.  She was known as “Nona” not only to her family, but also to her “adopted Bristol family” with whom she shared many happy times, memories and her famous Risotto over the years.

Mildred cherished her precious cats that brought her love and companionship all of her life.  She loved watching the birds and squirrels and other wildlife that showed up outside her windows in Centenary and in Bristol.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter Pam Balaban and son-in-law Ed and grandson Michael of Bristol, TN, Cathy Waldon of Clinton, several nieces and nephews, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews

Mildred’s family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses, staff, and friends and neighbors of Brookdale Senior Living in Bristol, Virginia who shared her last year with friendships, compassion, care, and love.

Friends may call at Giovanini Funeral Home, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, Sunday, January 7, 2018 with the Rosary being recited at 7:30 PM.  Prayer services will be conducted at Giovanini Funeral Home on Monday, January 8, 2018 at 10:45 AM followed by Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Church – Clinton at 11:0 AM.  Reverend Father Joseph Villa officiating.  Burial at Walnut Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 610 S. 6th Street, Clinton, IN 47842, or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 www.stjude.org, or to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org