Obituary of Cecelia B Valeri

Cecelia B. Valeri (nee Silesia), 74, a 44 year resident of Basking Ridge, passed away at Morristown Medical Center on February 10, 2015, after valiantly battling emphysema for many years. Ceil was born in Newark, NJ on May 10, 1940, to Carl Silesia and Virginia Silesia (nee Sarno). Ceil spent her formative years in Hollywood, Florida, before returning with her family to Newark, New Jersey where she graduated high school at Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1958. Ceil graduated St. Michael's Hospital School of Nursing in Newark in 1961. It was there that she met a young resident, and her future husband, John Valeri. John and Ceil were married at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on September 14, 1963. After several years of living in South Jersey, Seattle Washington, and again in Newark, John and Ceil moved to Basking Ridge in 1971 to raise their family and open a medical practice. Ceil was the office manager, and a nurse, for John's medical practice from the day they opened their home-office on North Finley Avenue in 1973, until they retired in 2007. In addition to being a terrific mother and manager of John's practice, Ceil's consummate passion was politics. Ceil was an elected Committeewoman of the Bernards Township Republican Committee for many years, serving in many key leadership positions. Ceil also served as treasurer and campaign manager for several Bernards Township Committee candidates. In addition to being a political leader, Ceil "walked-the-walk" by being a tireless political worker: she worked the polls, worked the phones and walked the streets with candidates. In a word, Ceil was a fighter, who would fight for every person or principle she believed in, even if it was not the popular cause. Ceil was also a Den Mother, served on Cub Scout and Boy Scout committees, and was even one of the first women baseball coaches in the Bernard's Township Recreation league. Ceil supported her sons in their wrestling programs, often having to get up early to drive her sons, and their teammates, to matches and tournaments. Everyone looked forward to the annual Ridge Wrestling Team pizza party at the Valeris during January. Ceil is survived by her husband of over 5 1 years, John, her sister Rosalie Stinson of Lake Okeechobee Florida, and her children, John of Basking Ridge, NJ, and Carl and daughter-in-law Gina (nee Schiaffo) of Treasure Island, Florida. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 13, 2015, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, NJ. The Rite of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at St. James Roman Catholic Church located at 184 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge. A reception will be held after mass at St. James.