Vera Barbara Stroms

Vera Barbara Stroms of Newton, N.J., passed away Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, while in hospice care in Merrimack, N.H., near her son and his family. Born in Old Forge, PA, Vera came to Newton NJ at the age of 3, and spent the majority of her life as a resident of Newton.

Vera graduated Newton High School in 1944. She was employed as a legal secretary at the law firm Mackerley & Friedman. Pursuing her love and interest in aviation, she enjoyed a flight attendant career with Eastern Air Lines for 12 years during the golden years of aviation. She lastly was employed as a recreational therapy worker at Andover Subacute & Rehabilitation Center for many years until retirement.

Besides primarily being a lifelong resident of Newton, she also lived in Washington, D.C., Germany, and Switzerland. Vera is the eldest of two daughters of the late Antonio and Flora (Paladini) Ballelli. Her only sibling Erminia (“Pat”), pre-deceased her in January 2015. Vera and Pat shared a special bond and loved and adored one another.

Those who love and will miss Vera dearly are her only child, Marc Stroms, and his fiancé ,Sascha; her grandchildren, Stefani and Anton Stroms; her great-grandchild, Damon; her dear Aunt Jennie Paladini-Switzer; her loving nephews, Todd Evans and his wife, Brenda, and grandnephew Todd, and Christopher Evans and his wife, Lorri, and grandnephew Chris; her closer cousins Linda Paladini-Mole and husband, Paul, Tommy Paladini and his wife, Ellen, and Dennis Paladini and his wife, Claire.

She will also be missed by her dear and loving lifelong friends Rita and Art Frisbee, and their caring and wonderful daughter Eileen; and will also be missed and remembered by many other kind and caring people who were special to her, whose life she has touched in the area of Newton.

There will be a private gathering at Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home in Newton for immediate family members only per Vera’s wishes. A graveside interment service was officiated by Chris Evans at the Stillwater Cemetery on Oct. 25 for family and close friends.

Correspondence to the family, can be mailed to P.O. Box 7673, Nashua, NH 03060.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in the celebration of Vera’s love of animals to Byram Animal Rescue Kindness Squad, or Center Avian Wildlife in Wantage.