Marge was born in Bay City, Michigan, on February 13, 1930. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor's degree in Music, and continued studying voice to earn a Master's degree at Eastman School of Music. She became a professor of voice at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, where she met and married her devoted husband of 60 years, Robert, who was head of the Piano/Keyboard Department.
Marge and Bob raised their family of four children in Kent, taking them on many travel adventures in the U.S. and Europe, including a 9-month sabbatical in Milan, Italy. After retiring from teaching and performing, she and Bob moved to Bellingham, Washington, in 1992. After Bob passed away in 2017, Marge moved to Raleigh to be close to family.
Marge continued to enjoy classical music, was devoted to the church, and cherished spending summers with family at her cottage on Lake Huron in Michigan. She brightened the lives of those around her with her warm welcoming nature, quick wit, and adventurous spirit.
Marge is survived by her loving children, Michael (Nalan Gezer) Palmieri, Nora (Andrew Trout) Palmieri, David (Julia) Palmieri, and Christopher (Ann) Palmieri, and dear grandchildren, Ian (Lauren) Trout, Stefan Trout, Cristian Trout, Johanna (Milan Kidd) Palmieri, Catherine (Bryce) Benedict, Benjamin Palmieri, and William Palmieri.
A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 PM January 26 at St. Francis of Assisi church, 11401 Leesville Road, Raleigh, NC 27613.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Doctors Without Borders, National Public Radio, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, or Catholic Relief Services.
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