Nina Kienia, 86, of Derry, NH, passed away Wednesday, December 15, 2021 in the Derry Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Derry following a gradual physical decline. She was born on December 9, 1935 in Derry, NH, the only daughter of Vladimir “Walter” of Georgia, Russia and Stanislauw “Sadie” (Naruszewicz) Kienia of Trotsk, Poland. Nina was the youngest of eight children and the only girl. She was raised on the family farm located on what is now known as Kienia Road in Hudson, NH, at a time when the lions roaring at Benson’s Wild Animal Farm could be heard on their property, at night. She was a graduate of Alvirne High School and was involved with the 4H Club in town. Nina was employed in housekeeping for the Fairview Nursing Home in Hudson. Nina’s good friends were sisters-in-laws Barbara Kienia and Marion Kienia, the latter of whom hosted countless Saturday nights where Nina enjoyed playing cards and being a whiz at scrabble with her extended family. In later years, Nina was a long-time resident of Beaver Lake Lodge in Derry where she was cherished, later moving to the rehab center where she received loving respectable care for many years. Nina was a survivor of Covid-19 in 2020 and tested negative of it the eve of her death. Nina was a very strong woman who had an extremely challenging life. She was loved.
She is survived by nieces and nephews, Wendy Goddard and husband Richard of Derry, Betty Noel of Otis, MA, Kris Bumford of Henniker, NH, Gayle Kienia of ME, Michael Kienia of Radcliff, KY, Walter Bruce Kienia of Saco, ME, Douglas Kienia of Wells, ME, Kevin Kienia of Manchester NH, Edward Kienia of Gloucester, MA, and several others, as well as her grandnieces and grandnephew, Laurel Goddard, Erin Gregoire and Aric Goddard who knew and loved her. She was predeceased by her parents and all her brothers: Michael of Nashua, Viaczeslaw and George Walter, both of Hudson, Anthony of Henniker, Steven of Nashua, Peter of Londonderry, and Edward of Sanford, ME.
There are no calling hours. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday December 21, 2021 at 1:00pm in the Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry, NH (located behind First Parish Congregational Church). Memorial contributions may be made to Live and Let Live Animal Rescue Farm in Chichester NH https://www.liveandletlivefarm.org/
or National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), https://www.nami.org/