Obituary of Virginia Palladino

Virginia D. Palladino, age 95, of State College, Pennsylvania, died on January 23, 2012. Born October 18, 1916 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Antonio and Virginia Sivori Marchetto. On June 16, 1945 she married Nunzio Joseph Palladino, who preceded her in death on December 12, 1999. In 1937, she graduated as an RN from the Allentown Hospital School of Nursing, and attended Columbia University and University of Pennsylvania. Virginia was named head nurse of both the Female and Male Medical Departments. She was also acting supervisor and nurse educator of the Medical Nursing Department. She represented Allentown Hospital on the Nursing Plan for Civilian Defense. In recognition of her wartime contribution as an instructor for the US Cadet Nurse Corps, she received a certificate for meritorious service from the US Public Health Service. "Ginny" was advisor for the nursing class of 1941, and one of her students, Anna Mae McCabe Hays, rose to become the army's first female general and special nurse to President Dwight Eisenhower. Virginia was president of both the Allentown Hospital Nurses Faculty Club and the Graduate Nurses Study Club of State College. She served as Vice President in charge of programs for the University Woman's Club, and also was an officer for the State College Area High School PTA. While living in Plainfield, Illinois, she led a Brownie Girl Scout troop. As a long time resident of State College, she volunteered many hours for the Red Cross Bloodmobiles at the University and in town. She was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. While her husband Nunzio was Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from 1981 to 1986, they attended many events at the White House, where they met President Pertini of Italy, as well as Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Bush, and Reagan. She is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Linda S. (Richard) Oswald of Somers, Conn., Lisa A. (Gil) Palladino-Ghaner of Spring Mills, and Cynthia M. (James) Maund of State College. She is also survived by five grand children: Nicole, Timothy, Philip, Emily Oswald, and Laura Maund; and one great-grand son, Louis Oswald Stone. She was preceded in death by seven siblings: Ida Dall'Ava, Alba Pastre, Tina Talamini, Elsie Charley, August, Guido, and her twin brother, Anthony. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Friday, January 27, 2012 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street, State College. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 820 Westerly Parkway, State College. Entombment will be at the Chapel Mausoleum at Centre County Memorial Park, College Township. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nunzio and Virginia Palladino Scholarship Fund at Penn State, 1 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802. Online condolences may be made at www.kochfuneralhome.com.