Valerie Day (Morris) Gill, 84, passed away on the morning of Nov. 11 in Damariscotta. Born in April of 1931 in New Haven, Conn., she was the daughter of Diane (Rogers) Sylos and Lt. Col. Leonel C. Morris.
Valerie grew up in New Haven, and in other U.S. states where her father was based while in the Army. She attended the Mary A. Burnham prep school in Northampton, Mass. (now Stoneleigh-Burnham) where she was president of both her class and her sorority. Valerie graduated in 1953 with a B.A. degree in English from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. She married David T. Gill in Meriden, Conn. in October of 1953, and they settled in Harwinton, Conn. where they raised their family.
Valerie worked as a newspaper reporter for The Hartford Courant, and helped special needs students in the Harwinton, Conn. elementary school system. Her interests included antiquing, decorating, writing, drawing, painting, and reading.
Valerie was a true lady who was kind, gentle and thoughtful. She will be sorely missed by her family and all of those whose lives she touched.
Valerie was predeceased by her husband in 2010; and brother, F. Paul Sylos Jr. in 2008.
She leaves daughters, Diana Gill and Ted Stefanik of Harvard, Mass., Susan and Alden Sproul of Bristol, Sarah and Steve Burnette of Ponte Vedra, Fla., and Martha Gill and Glenn Miller of Dracut, Mass.; grandchildren, Jessie, John, Erin, Lauren, Eliza, Sarah, Jonathan, Darren, Valerie, Isaac, Adam and Caleb; five great-grandchildren; as well as an honorary daughter, Margaret Arigoni of Harwinton, Conn.
In lieu of a service, the family welcomes your stories of Valerie, and messages of condolences, by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
