Valerie T. Smiech, age 91 of Punta Gorda, FL, formerly of Washington Township, NJ, passed away April 20, 2021. She was born December 13, 1929 in New York, NY to Stefan and Anna (Dec) Stemkowski. She graduated from Washington Irving High School in New York and continued on to work as a secretary for Westwood Anesthesia, working in Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, NJ. Valerie lived in Washington Township, NJ for 35 years before moving to Punta Gorda, FL in 1995. She loved traveling, which started with her first airplane flight at the age of 40 to Poland. Valerie has since travelled all over the world. She has collected souvenir plates from all her destinations which she proudly displayed on the dining room wall. Valerie was a bridge player and an avid bowler, even appearing as a contestant on the TV show, “Bowling for Dollars”. She loved reading and game shows. She was fondly known as the “Slot Machine Queen” due to her many bus trips to the casinos. First to Atlantic City, NJ and ending with trips to Tampa, and Immokalee, FL. In her younger years through adulthood, she enjoyed Polka dancing and was a member of the Polish American Club with her husband. She was a devout Roman Catholic and a parishioner of San Antonio Catholic Church in Deep Creek. Valerie had a great smile, readily available to all. She loved babies, children and her family. She was strong willed and was the matriarch pillar of her family. Valerie was very generous and a source of comfort for all. She was preceded in death by her parents, Stefan Stemkowski and Anna (Dec) Stemkowski; her husband, William A Smiech; her grandson, Johnny; her brothers, Ben and Mike; and sisters, Helene, Jean, and Rose. Valerie is survived by her children, Diane, Billy, Susan (Dermott Molyneaux), Trish (Chuck Sloughfy), Andy (Kathy) and Tommy; grandchildren, Beni, Nick, Jake, Melissa, Keith, Jody, Candice, Matthew, Crystal, Eric, Jessica, and Kimberli; and 10 great grandchildren, with 2 on the way (twins). A Memorial Mass will take place on Friday, May 14, 2021 at 11am at San Antonio Catholic Church; 24445 Rampart Blvd, Port Charlotte, FL 33980.
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