Valerie Belle (Gardner) Altieri of West Bridgewater, passed away on Monday, September 12th, 2016. Valerie was born in Cohasset to William A. and Hazel I. (D’Sloggett) Gardner. She grew up with her four siblings and was educated in Scituate, Ma. After high school, she went on to graduate from Academy Modern Modeling School in Boston. During her modeling career, she met and married the love of her life Michael Altieri of Brockton, MA. They were happily married for 51 years.
Valerie was a dedicated homemaker and devoted mom to her three children. She was happily, actively involved with her children and acted as leader for Brownies, as Children’s 4H cooking club leader and as volunteer for the local PTO. A very creative person, she enjoyed art and music and loved to sing in her beautiful operatic soprano voice. She also was an imaginative baker known for her beautifully decorated cakes and pastry creations. She enjoyed traveling with and spending time with her family and friends. Valerie followed the latest trends in beauty and fashion and her make-up and clothing choices could rival any Hollywood stylist. She shared the love of fashion with her granddaughters.
Valerie proudly ran Val’s Cleaning Company and had many happy and grateful customers, giving up her business to be a loving daycare provider to all of her grandbabies. She enjoyed politics and lively conversations with family and friends, especially with her beloved son-in-law Victor. Valerie also loved literature and felt that reading was essential for all children. She donated many books and learning materials to Mitchell Elementary Kindergarten students and she loved spending many a day reading aloud to them.
A thoughtful and selfless person, Valerie continuously helped and cared for those around her. She is best known for her love of children, cheerful demeanor, easy humor, continuous compassionate acts of kindness and quiet grace.
Valerie was the loving mother of Christine Altieri and her husband Victor Palmieri of West Bridgewater, Michael Altieri and his late life partner Kathleen Schifino of Middleboro, and Anthony Altieri of West Palm Beach. Beloved grandmother of Jesse Palmieri and his wife Erin of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Alexandria Palmieri, Alexander Altieri of West Bridgewater and Michaela Altieri of Middleboro. She was the sister of John Gardner and Gayla Moore both of California and Garry Gardner of Scituate, MA. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
A private graveside service was held on September 23nd.
The family of Valerie B. Altieri wishes to thank the compassionate, kind, dedicated nurses and staff of Old Colony Hospice for the love with which they attended her and for their extraordinary standard of care. They would also like to thank Conley Funeral Home of Brockton for all of their warmth, kindness, honesty and outstanding professionalism.