Ingrid Uta (Voss) Paltrineri

Ingrid Paltrineri, known simply as Omi to her family, passed away in the company of her children on August 4, 2023, from complications of ALS.

Born Ingrid Uta Voss in Nuremberg, Germany on January 14, 1940, during one of the most chaotic and tragic moments in history, Omi went on to live a remarkable life filled with humor and love.

During the early days of the second world war, Ingrid's mother moved with her to her hometown, Katowice Poland. Then, fleeing Russian troops in the winter of 1945, the pair settled briefly near extended family just outside Dresden, Germany. Ingrid, her mother and some other members of the family survived the infamous Dresden bombing in February of 1945, and then found their way to Coburg, Germany where she lived until she was seven years old. From Coburg, she and her mother moved back to Nuremberg then to Munich and finally across the Atlantic in 1954. After a few more moves they settled in the town of Keeseville, NY.

Ingrid's vibrant and magnetic personality soon revealed itself when she was elected Prom Queen at Keeseville High School after only a few months at her new school.

In 1962, while working as a librarian at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in Troy, New York, Ingrid met Bruce Paltrineri, a shy handsome engineering student (wearing a flannel shirt) who had applied to be her assistant. After a brief courtship… It is unclear who swept whom off their feet, the couple was married on June 22, 1963, in Wellesley, MA. The newlyweds settled in New London, CT.

Bruce's career as an engineer took the couple on several cross country and transatlantic moves until they settled in Napa in 1972, the place they would call home and raise their three chiidren. During their heyday, Ingrid and Bruce developed close friendships in their community, were active members in St. John the Baptist Catholic parish and supporters of Justin Siena High School and Napa 4-H.

Tragically, Ingrid lost Bruce to cancer in 1995. But despite such a loss, Omi fully embraced her role as mother, mother-in-law and grandmother for the rest of her days. She also continued to gather with friends to knit, play mahjong and participate in her book club. Holidays at Omi's house were highly anticipated, loud, fun and mandatory.

Throughout her life, she stayed close to her German family, visited Coburg and Munich frequently and remained in near constant contact with her close cousins (almost sisters) and their families. Ingrid was proud to know that her own children would carry that tradition on into the next generation.

Everyone who knew her will remember the way she spoke, heavily accented (which she denied), spiced with invented words and phrases… part German/ Polish/ English/ Italian, and delivered in a confident, absolutely unique manner. But more than that we will remember how generous, dedicated and truly loving she was.

Ingrid is survived by her children (and their spouses): Monique Paltrineri (John Carroll), Nicole Paltrineri (David Richardson), Stephen Paltrineri (Colleen); her six grandchildren: Klehr Carroll, Owen Carroll, Gabriella Richardson, Cassandra Richardson, Thomas Paltrineri and Annabelle Paltrineri and her extended family in Germany.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, August 14, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Ingrid's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the ALS Association.

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