Valencia (Val) Giroux

BARRE-Valencia (Val) Giroux, of Barre, VT died at Central VT Medical Center, Berlin, VT on February 11, 2025. Val was born in Clarksville, NH, oldest daughter of Cecil Aldrich and Florence Karlene Kane. She attended schools in Vermont, Massachusetts and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1948. She attended night classes in Commercial Law and Efficiency in Banking as well as English until 1951 at Vermont College in Montpelier. She married Donald Joseph Giroux at St. Monica Church on November 21, 1953. Donald died on April 2, 2011. Val was employed at the former Barre Trust Company for 16 years as the Internal Auditor and Assistant Trust Officer until they merged with Merchants Bank. She then volunteered at St. Monica Grade School office, doing bookkeeping and was soon employed as secretary at Marian High for Rev. Raymond Giroux, followed by Rev. Roland Rivard until its closing. She then was employed by the Parish as its part-time bookkeeper for Msgr. Edward Fitzsimmons, followed by Msgr. Redi Mayo as his secretary and Office Manager. She also worked as bookkeeper for St. Sylvester’s in Graniteville and St. Edward’s in Williamstown. The Monte and Monte Law Firm was her next choice of work where she worked for Attorney John Monte. She was employed there for over three years. She then was employed at CVMC in Berlin as secretary to the President and Vice President of Nursing where she worked for 9 and one-half years. St. Monica Parish called again and wanted her to return as their bookkeeper and office manager, serving Rev. Donald Ward, followed by Rev. Bernard Messier and her final pastor was Msgr. Rev. Peter Routhier. She was there until retirement in 2002 for a total of 26 years for the parish. In her time off, Val was a seamstress for herself as well as her two sons when they were younger. She was an excellent cook and delighted in family gatherings where she could show her skills as a home chef, taking after her mother (who was a chef in a hotel in MA as well as a restaurant in Barre, VT). She loved to cook and her freezer was always full of food that she made just for company. Val also enjoyed watching her two sons play baseball and ice hockey throughout their lives. She also enjoyed many friends who gathered for games of cribbage. She watched TV news, game shows, following her “away” families, giving Internet opinions, puzzles, knitting, and crocheting for cancer patients at Mass General and New Haven, CT chemo wards. She also sang in the parish choir, ecumenical choirs in the area, as well as for funerals and weddings and finally was the director of special events in the Church. Val is survived by her sons, Dennis Mark (wife Lynn) of Chester, CT and Daniel Jay (wife Nancy) of Shelton, CT, her grandchildren Paul (wife Lauren) of Chester, CT, Dominique (partner David Grundhoefer) of Breckenridge, CO, Michael of Shelton, CT and two nephews, Brian (wife Tammy) Wark and son Jonah of Colchester, VT and Christian Shultz (wife Danahe), and daughters Alexandra and Rhianna, serving our country in Latvia. Also surviving are four great grandchildren, Camilla, Chloe and Elliana, children of Paul and Lauren Giroux, and Wilder, son of Dominique Giroux and David Grundhoefer, as well as relatives in Montreal, Canada, New Milford, CT, Manchester and Dover, NH, Hermosa Beach and San Luis Obisgo, CA. She was predeceased by husband Donald Joseph Giroux and son Douglas Paul, her parents, her sister Nyla Wark and spouse Joseph, their son Stephen, her sister Gail Shults and spouse Walden Shultz. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Monica Church in Barre, VT on Friday May 2,2025 at 11am and burial to follow at St Monica Cemetery on Beckley Hill, Barre, VT. There are no calling hours, as per her wishes. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Monica Parish in Barre, VT for altar supplies. Arrangements are in the care of Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home, 58 Summer St. in Barre. Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at: www.pruneaupollifuneralhome.com

Tributes

Valencia (Val) Giroux

February 11, 2025