Obituary of Katherine Nell Acierno

Katherine Nell Acierno, 21, of Chapel Hill, NC, died on October 30, 2021, from injuries sustained in a vehicle-pedestrian accident in Greenville, NC. 

Katherine was the beloved daughter of Vince and Beth Acierno and sister to Avery Acierno. She was born on January 18, 2000, in Durham, NC. She was a senior in the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She would have graduated in May of 2022.

Katherine was an accomplished nursing student on the Dean’s List. She served as a mentor to future nursing students through the Association of Nursing Students and the Undergraduate Student Governance Council. She volunteered her time as a student nurse at the Student Health Action Coalition clinic. She was involved with the UNC School of Nursing Doula program where she practiced her love of women’s health. She hoped to become a Labor and Delivery nurse. 

Katherine was a dedicated swimmer, lifeguard, and swim instructor. She started swimming at age 8 and swam competitively through high school. She was a captain of her high school swim team. She was a current member of the UNC Club Swim Team.

Katherine graduated in 2018 as a valedictorian from Chapel Hill High School.

Other surviving family members include grandmother Angela Acierno of Hughestown, PA; grandmother Vera Winston of Asheboro, NC; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

A celebration of life will be held on UNC’s campus at the Carolina Student Union on November 8 at 6:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the UNC School of Nursing Scholarship Fund (#424237): go.unc.edu/nursingscholarships. 

Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill is assisting the family.