It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Francis Valente, 77, of Wethersfield on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Tom was born on February 18, 1947 to Angeline (Mainuli) and Joseph Valente. He was a graduate of Bulkeley High School, Class of 1965. He married Florinda Santos on June 26, 1976 in a large Italian wedding. They settled in Wethersfield, where he was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 34 years, retiring in 2004. He later worked for the town of Wethersfield as a crossing guard in front of the high school for seven years, replacing his father.
Tom served as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era, stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. He later attended Hartford Community College, earning his Associate’s Degree in Science. He has been a retired member of the Capital City Merged Branch No. 86 NALC Union.
Tom was a loyal fan of the New York Yankees, UConn basketball and football and the New England Patriots. He was a longtime parishioner of the Church of the Incarnation, Wethersfield. Tom enjoyed playing setback at the Wethersfield Senior Center on Fridays with his dear friends who supported him as he struggled with Parkinson’s Disease.
Tom was the loving, proud and devoted father and father-in-law to Susan and Peping Dee, Jr. of Wethersfield. They faithfully stood by his side no matter what time of day or night he needed them. When things got difficult for him, their love and loyalty were always present. The light of his life was his precious granddaughter, Isabel Rose Dee of Wethersfield. Her love toward her Papa was his greatest joy.
Besides Susan, Peping and Isabel, Tom leaves to mourn his passing his dedicated wife of almost 48 years, Florinda (Santos) Valente; his loyal sisters, Joanne Valente of Rocky Hill and Christine DeLisa and husband Ken of Wethersfield and their families; his much loved sister and brother-in-law, Jacqueline and Joseph Crawley and son of West Springfield, MA; his sister-in-law, the Hon. Thelma Santos of West Hartford and his beloved aunt and uncle, Maria and Michael Valente of South Carolina. Tom also leaves his cherished nieces and nephews, Gina and Jay Brennan and their daughter Sofia, Angela Giaccotto and her daughter Ella, Frank Borrelli, Stephanie and Nate Adams and their children, Peter Santos, Lauren Laccavole and husband Matt, Ryan DeLisa and wife Caren and their children, Justin DeLisa and wife Jill and their children and his extended family, Merlene and Peping Lim Dee and sons, Christopher Dee and wife Ann and children of North Carolina, Albert Dee of Wethersfield and Marlon Dee and wife Paulina and children of Indiana, as well as his loving cousins from the DeLuca, Mainuli, Valente, Bonfiglio, Tompkins and Fournier families. Tom was predeceased by his parents and his brother-in-law, Attorney Hubert J. Santos of West Hartford.
Calling hours will be Friday, May 17 from 9:30-11 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation of Christ the King Parish, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Burial with military honors will be in Village Cemetery, Wethersfield. Donations in Tom’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To share a memory of Tom, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com
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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105
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