Obituary of Valentina Healey

Valentina “Val” Lopez Healey, 99, passed away Saturday November 25, 2023, at Saint Clare’s Hospital, Dover.  She was born in Mine Hill, New Jersey, and moved to Dover at the age of 6, where she lived for the rest of her life.

During World War II, Valentina began working at Picatinny Arsenal as a Munitions Tester, and then worked in the Disbursement office.

Valentina earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education with Summa Cum Laude from Kean University.

She was a teacher at Sacred Heart School and was instrumental in establishing the library there. After Sacred Heart, Val was one of the first bilingual teachers in the Dover public school system. She taught for 29 years and loved it and showed a general personal interest in every student.

Val also obtained her real estate license and was an agent for C. Peña Realtors. She was a volunteer Sunday school teacher, as well as a CCD teacher at Sacred Heart Parish. She also volunteered at Dover General Hospital and was a member of the Green Owls, a Girl Scout volunteer group. She was a member of the Dover Senior Club, the Sacred Heart Leisure Club, and NJEA.

Valentina traveled extensively with her friends and family and loved it. 

Her greatest love of all was for her family.  She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Nancy Perry Healey, and her son-in-law, George Cagnoni,  as well as her grandchildren, Rich Cagnoni (Tammy), and Deanna Alzubi (Mohammed) and great grandchildren, Khalid, Mikhlid, and Malik Alzubi.  She is predeceased by her husband, William Healey, Sr, her daughter, Patricia Cagnoni, and her son, William Healey, Jr.

Visitation on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at Tuttle Funeral Home, Randolph (Tuttlefh.com) from 10:00AM – 11:30AM with a Funeral Service at 11:30AM.  Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sacred Heart Church in Dover, NJ or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (501 St. Jude Place • Memphis, TN 38105)

Visitation

When: Wednesday 11/29/2023 10:00am to 11:30am

Location: (At Funeral Home: 272 State Route 10 West; Randolph, NJ 07869)

Funeral Service

When: Wednesday 11/29/2023 11:30am

Location: (At Funeral Home: 272 State Route 10 West; Randolph, NJ 07869)

Interment

When: Following Service

Location: GATE OF HEAVEN CATHOLIC CEMETERY
225 RIDGEDALE AVE
EAST HANOVER, NJ 07936
973-887-0286