My Mom

Valerie Joan (Cella) Sterople aka Valerie Star chose Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, 2011 to make her grand exit. She passed peacefully at the age of 79 in Fishkill, NY. After a brain hemmorhage in May 2008, she was confined to nursing home care.

She is survived by her beloved children & their spouses: Kimberly A. Fishman & Howard Fishman, Todd N. Sterople & Helen Sterople, Gabrielle P. Campbell & Russell Campbell; her adored grandchildren: Sojourn S. Campbell, Ryan J. Sterople; her loving brother & spouse: Norman R. Cella & Theresa Cella; niece: Simone M. Miller; nephew: Norman D. Cella.

Her husband Joseph R. Sterople, whom she married August 31, 1957, pre-deceased her on March 28, 2009.

Valerie was born August 26, 1932 to Norman and Lily (Troltzsch) Cella and spent her childhood in East Orange, New Jersey.

After marriage, she lived in Trenton, NJ; Rhinebeck, NY; Glastonbury, CT; Boylston, MA; Kennebunk, ME.

At an early job as a telephone operator, she used the name Valerie Star. She continued this name during her 20 years as a Real Estate Agent in Rhinebeck. This was her official name for her many theater performances. Her proudest moment – a short stint on the tv show “Kate & Allie.”

In addition, she also worked in a law library and the newspaper and radio businesses at various times which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Valerie was a friendly, well-liked and compassionate soul. She gave blood regularly until she was considered to be “too old.” Above her love of theater was the love for her family. She enjoyed cooking and having family dinners often. Christmas was her favorite holiday and she went all out in decorating and making each family Christmas a special memory.

Special supporting characters in this life included: Betty Bittner, Lesley Mccann, Stephanie Steinkraus and Betsy Quinn among many. Valerie loved making friends. She often received letters and cards from her real estate clients with personal updates.

Her real estate career included working with: Helen Battistoni, Ralph Cautela and Rhinelander with HH Hill being the last.

Valerie leaves us with this reminder:

Do not stand at my grave and weep, 

I am not there, I do not sleep. 

I am in a thousand winds that blow, 

I am the softly falling snow. 

I am the gentle showers of rain, 

I am the fields of ripening grain. 

I am in the morning hush, 

I am in the graceful rush 

Of beautiful birds in circling flight, 

I am the starshine of the night. 

I am in the flowers that bloom, 

I am in a quiet room. 

I am in the birds that sing, 

I am in each lovely thing. 

Do not stand at my grave and cry, 

I am not there. I do not die.

- Mary Frye

Funeral services are private 

http://www.dapsonchestney.com/sterople.html