Delina F. Valente

Delina F. Valente, 77, passed away on Saturday, June 16, 2007, in Sandpoint, Idaho with her family at her side after a brief battle with ALS. Memorial Services will be held at 4:00 pm, Thursday, June 21, 2007 at Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel, 109 N. Division Ave., in Sandpoint, Idaho for family and local acquaintances. The Rev. JP Carver, from St. Agnes Episcopal Church will officiate. A second memorial service will be held at a later date in Alameda, Ca. for her lifelong friends as well as a private graveside service in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Memorial donations may be made in Delina’s name to the ALS Association at (888) 949-2577 or their website www.alsa.org. Delina was born on February 26, 1930 in Flint, Michigan the daughter of Emil Conard and Nealie Elizabeth (Fagan) Mathes. Delina was a graduate from Jonesboro High School in 1948. Delina left Jonesboro in 1949 and relocated to California where she remained until her sudden illness, at which time she moved to Sandpoint, in the beginning of 2007 to be with her daughter and son-in-law. She worked breifly as a switchboard operator with Bell Telephone before entering into the automobile business for 38 years. She worked for Tracy Buick in Oakland, Ca. and for Good Chevrolet in Alameda, Ca. as a bookkeeper and payroll. She retired in 1992 for a brief period but became bored and returned to work for Lucasey Manufacturing Company in Oakland, Ca. She continued to work there until her recent diagnosis of ALS in January 2007. Delina was a faithful member of the Bay Farm Community Church in Alameda, Ca. She was very active and an avid exercise enthusiast attending weekly aerobic classes where she was a great inspiration to everyone. Traveling with family and friends was especially enjoyable to Delina. She had a passion for cats and enjoyed their loving company from childhood throughout her adult life. She surrounded herself with young and vivacious individuals. She loved to dance and listen to all types of music and would often attend concerts with her dear friends. She also enjoyed the local theater in Alameda. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Sidney Rayfield of Sandpoint, Id.; two step-daughters, Valerie Pinto and Destiny Hobson; step-son, Louis Valente, her sister and brother-in-law, Martha Lynn (Mathes) and John Wolfe of Jonesboro, Arkansas; sister-in-law Sue Mathes also of Jonesboro; three grandsons, Bryan, Christopher and Randy Dosher, all residing in Seattle, Wa.; step-grandson, Max Pinto; and two great granddaughters, Bailey and Taylor; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She is also survived and lovingly remembered by her son-in-law Sid’s three daughters and their families. Delina was preceded in death by two infants at birth, her son, Andrew Fertado, her brother Dennis Mathes and her parents.