Obituaries
Obituary: Donald M. Valente, 85; Longtime Wallingford Business Owner
Don was a barber and owner of Don's Barber & Style Shop and proud co-owner of business fronts in Wallingford for almost 60 years.
WALLINGFORD, CT — (From Wallingford Funeral Home): Donald M. Valente, 85, loving husband of the late Maxine (Grant) Valente, of Meriden, passed away on Monday, January 16, 2023 at the Hospital of Central CT. He was born in New Haven, on March 25, 1937, the son of the late John and Mary (Iadevito) Valente.
Don was a barber and owner of Don’s Barber & Style Shop and proud co-owner of business fronts in Wallingford for almost 60 years. He enjoyed years-long relationships with his customers, barbers and tenants, often sharing fun facts or humorous quips he heard. He was an avid UCONN Women’s basketball fan and a follower of the New York Yankees.
In his early years he loved to play golf and racquetball. Don and Max were always ready for a competitive game of Aggravation with family!
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He is survived by his children, Cheryl Boeher (Bill), David Valente (Amy), Kathy Larkin (Rob), and Mark Valente (Jill Johnson); his grandchildren, David Valente (Tori), Stephanie Boeher, Danielle Valente, Mark Valente, Matthew Boeher, Samantha Larkin and Madison Larkin; and great grandson Jensen Valente who brightened his day just watching him play; and Jon and Lisa Abbott and their son Jonny who will forever fill a special place in his heart; his sister Emily Valente, and brother John (Linda) Valente; nephew Guy (Debra) Ripa. He was predeceased by his sister Lucille (Sal) Ripa and niece Linda Bowen.
His family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main Street Ext. on Friday, January 20, from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. when the funeral cortege will proceed to Most Holy Trinity Church, 84 North Colony Street, Wallingford, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 noon. Interment will follow in St. John Cemetery in Wallingford.
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In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).
For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Wallingford Funeral Home here.
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