Evelyn M Valetutti

Evelyn Marie Valetutti, née Young, age 92, died peacefully in White Plains, NY, on December 15, 2014. Born on October 12, 1922 in New York, NY, settled in Yonkers, NY relocated to Harrington Park, NJ and most recently to Westchester residing at The Kensington. Her husband, Vincent, predeceased her in 1967. Evelyn and Vincent had 7 children: Vincent Jr., Lynette, Marc (deceased), Donna, Paul, Eugene and Teresa; 12 grandchildren: Suzanne, Thomas, Michael, Gina, Christopher, Jason, Eric, Daniel, Paul, Candice, Victoria, and Oliver; and 9 great-grandchildren: Peter, Vivienne, Marianna, Alex, Laney, Jonathan, Isabella, Vincent, Anthony, and twins on the way in spring.
Evelyn was a quick-witted spunky woman who was the pillar of strength in a large family. Early on, Evelyn displayed a knack for knitting, sewing--skills that sadly few of her descendants seem to have mastered. At the top of her high school class in Jamaica, Queens, Evelyn set off for a NYU to obtain her college degree. Evelyn and Vincent courted on the stoops of Washington Square Park. When Vincent had a sudden weekend leave from the Navy in 1944, the two opted to marry the very next day--in St. Patrick's Cathedral! A delayed honeymoon, skiing in Canada, resulted in a broken ankle for Evelyn. From then on, she stayed off the slopes. Fortunately, Evelyn and Vincent had their parents nearby when they began a family. As both were only children, they desired a large family and filled their loving home with children, with much assistance from the grandparents. With the premature death of Vincent, with grace and poise, Evelyn continued to raise her children on her own. As her family expanded to the next generation, Evelyn was very much an active participant in raising many of her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As a retiree, she eagerly traveled Sweden to reconnect with relatives of her immigrant parents. And added Finland and Italy to her adventures too.
Evelyn was a resilient woman with a nimble mind that served her well in her long, fulfilling life. Evelyn always gave a lending hand and had an abundance of strong and well-thought out opinions on science, politics, and life. Evelyn warmed us with her love and charmed us with her wit. Ggma you will live on in our hearts and memories and you will be greatly missed, rest in peace.

Services will be held on Thursday, December, 18 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home, 2 Maple Ave. White Plains, NY.

Private family mass and burial will be 12 noon Friday, December 19, at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery Chapel in Valhalla, NY.