Celebrating the life of Rita Valente

On the morning of June 20, 2025, while all of us gently had her hands in our hands, God came to Matthews House and peacefully, with a lot of love and affection, escorted her to be reunited with her loving parents and sisters. May God have her now in His Glory!

She was born in Montras, Spain on October 20, 1942, and in the summer of 1954, at her age of 11 she travelled to South America on a ship with her two older sisters to reunite with their family members in Caracas, Venezuela.

Unknown to either of them, our dad “Dan”, her future husband, at his age of 16 was on the same ship to reunite with his dad, Antonio, in Caracas, Venezuela that same summer of 1954.

The two finally met years later in 1957 in Caracas, got married in 1964 and moved to Montreal, Canada, where I was born in 1967. My sister Dana Maria arrived later in 1969 in Vancouver, BC.

“Mammina”, as we called her, was such a kind, giving mother who smothered us with love. She was incredibly intelligent and creative, fluent in four languages and including her very special unique and very colorful version of English.

Mammina was an incredible woman, and we were so lucky to have her in our lives. Now she soars with the angels and will be watching over us from above, and all the memories we have of her will keep her spirit alive in our hearts…and a teardrop or two will always fall!

Thank you, Mammina, we all love you so much today and forever… May God, have you now in His Glory.

Tony, Dana-Maria and our dad Dan Valente

Now we would like to thank the PSWs, doctors, nurses, and all the wonderful people at Matthews House in Alliston.

Rita’s celebration of life will take place in Spain at a future date as her last wish was to rest in peace with her mother and sisters.

Please, in lieu of flowers, make a donation in Rita’s name to: Matthews House in Alliston, ON. Thank you and may GOD bless you all!

Memories and notes of condolence may be shared at Drury Funeral Centre.