On Friday, December 15, the town of Londonderry lost a truly inspiring and creative woman. Patricia Verani, 90, passed away at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester, while surrounded by her loved ones.
Verani was born January 2, 1927 in Long island, New York and was the daughter of Esther Tufts and Tracy Lewis. She was raised in Pinehurst, North Carolina and spent her summers in Meredith, New Hampshire.
Verani had a passion for art and graduated with honors from the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts in 1948, she also won a scholarship to study in Paris under the sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. After World War II, Verani met the man she would fall in love with, Osvaldo Verani, while on an art scholarship in Italy. The couple married on April 24, 1950. After their marriage, they decided to begin their lives together in New Hampshire where they opened “Verani’s Restaurant” in Manchester in 1955. The restaurant closed its doors in 1965 and the couple moved to their next adventure, starting a real estate business in Londonderry (Verani Real Estate).
In 1978, Verani began her career as a freelance sculptor, specializing in clay, stone, and wood carving. She has created beautiful works of art over the years, not just for Londonderry, but she is also the artist behind the eight-foot bronze Fighting Black Bear of the University of Maine back in 1979. Verani was even commissioned by the Federal Government to create commemorative coins. She designed the US Commemorative Silver Dollar in 1987, the Olympic US Commemorative Silver Dollar in 1988, the Commemorative Half Dollar for Congress in 1989, and even a coin for the 200th anniversary of the US Constitution. Verani was an incredible sculptor who put beautiful detail into everything she created.
In Londonderry, she sculpted the Johnny Appleseed statue that can be found right as you walk in the door of the Leach Library. She also created works of art that have been featured at the Londonderry Town Commons, most notably the Minuteman bronze for the soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War. Patricia Verani was also very devoted to her town of Londonderry, serving the position of treasurer of the Londonderry PTA from 1961 to 1965. She was also a volunteer artist for the Londonderry Historical Society in 1979 and again in 1994-1997, and finally in 2003-2004.
Verani is deeply missed and will always be remembered for her creativity, her artistry, and most importantly: her love for life.
She is survived by her three daughters, Michela Verani, Margherita Verani and her husband John Weigler, Daniela Verani and her husband Nick Schlanger, as well as Patricia’s son Giovanni Verani and his wife Tammy, all residents of Londonderry. She is also survived by her three grandsons, Benedetto Weigler, Bruno Weigler, Luca Verani, and her granddaughter, Alianna Verani. Her husband Osvaldo passed away back in 1997 after 47 years of marriage. Patricia will be greatly missed by her family, loved ones, the town of Londonderry, and all she’s inspired with her beautiful works of art.