Agnes Valenta

To know Agnes is to love her. You always knew when Agnes was around. She lit up the room like a bubbly fountain spilling over with laughter…evermore whistling, humming or singing. She loved to sing, often blessing others with her infectious, cheerful personality and beautiful voice as she accompanied herself on her Omnichord in her golden years. Her colorful personality was displayed even in her love of crosswords, completing the puzzles in multiple-colored markers.

She also loved playing Bingo with her family, mostly over the phone, hootin’ and whoopin’ it up with every win. She excelled at Wii bowling and Shuffleboard at The Pines. She was a real socialite there; everyone knew her. She did closed-circuit broadcasts with her friend, Paul, and participated in Sunday Chapel services, sometimes leading the worship service with her musical talent.

Agnes was also very crafty…always making something, mostly to give as gifts…wall mirrors surrounded with seashells, beautiful topiaries, Christmas ornaments, and produced an array of crocheted and needlepoint items.

If you could ask Agnes what was most precious to her, the answer would be her family and her Savior, receiving Jesus into her life at age 56. She is currently singing for Him in Glory.

Born in Coplay, PA, she grew up in Paterson NJ until she married John and they purchased a 2-family home in Prospect Park. Nine years later they moved to Wayne where she was a gracious hostess for lots of parties! They owned and operated several businesses including the Lincoln Luncheonette in Paterson, at which Agnes was the chief cook. They lived in Wayne until purchasing the lakefront property on Greenwood Lake, NY (more parties!) in the mid ‘70s and later became “snowbirds” with a condo in Pompano Beach FL, enjoying many trips and cruises together. After John passed in 2004, Agnes moved to the Toms River area and then into independent living at The Pines in 2009 where she blossomed as a social butterfly.

She leaves behind her sister Hermina “Minnie” Strauch, her “Full House” (3 daughters and 2 sons) Linda Parzek and husband Jack of Wayne NJ, Diane “Cookie” Palinski and husband Tom of Sacramento CA, Susan Weber and husband Gary of Dover DE, John J. Valenta and wife Kim of Greenwood Lake NY, and Steven Valenta and Kerri McPhillips of Montgomery NY.

Agnes was blessed with 8 grandchildren and their spouses: Stefanie (Parzek) Templeton and David, Jennifer (Parzek) Volz and Greg, Dorie (Palinski) McLemore and Bryan, Missy (Palinski) Vaughn and Jody, Sandy (Palinski) Everett and Chad, Kevin Weber, Katee Valenta & Angie Valenta. She also has 15 great-grandchildren: Alex, Emily, & Noah Volz; Brendan, Makenna, & Kayley McLemore; Jada, Asher, Logan & Davis Vaughn; Lucas, Alaina, Alivia & Levi Everett; and Daniel Owens.

She was predeceased by her parents Joseph & Hermina Strauch, brother Joe Strauch Jr. & wife Lila, and her husband of 57 years, John E. Valenta.

A Committal Service will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at 1pm at the Brig. Gen. Wm. C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Rd. Wrightstown, NJ. Please arrive at the cemetery 15 minutes early. Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 115 Lacey Rd. Whiting, NJ is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

If you wish to honor Agnes with a donation to a ministry that was dear to heart and brought her much peace and comfort throughout her days, please do so at the link below:

https://secure.ourdailybread.org/planned-giving/#memory-giving

In Memory of: Agnes Valenta

*Address:

13 Grieves Terrace

Wayne, NJ 07470

*Optional, if you wish to notify the family of your gift