Valerie Clarice Monello

Valerie Clarice Monello (née Dahl) of Derwood, Maryland, passed away peacefully at home with her daughter by her side on April 25, 2022. She was born on January 25, 1940 to Clarence and Anne Dahl (née Brhely) in Cudahy, Wisconsin. She was the youngest of three daughters. 

Valerie (Val) graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1958 and began working as a dental assistant in Milwaukee after graduation. She married James W. Fay, Jr. in 1960 and moved to Manchester, CT where their children Clarice and William (Billy) were born.  They moved to Maryland in 1965, and their marriage lasted until 1985.  It was in Maryland that Valerie found her niche as the quintessential stay-at-home mom and caregiver to several children who were entrusted to her care. When her family moved to Landpointe in Olney in 1971, Val became friends with Joyce Cavatoni and that friendship has lasted for 51 years. Like MacGyver, she could troubleshoot and fix anything from a ripped hem to a leaky faucet.  The Halloween costumes she designed and created were the talk of the neighborhood. Val was an excellent cook and baker, and every year her children and grandchildren looked forward to receiving one of the legendary birthday cakes she decorated. 

In 1975, Val transitioned from stay-at-home-mom to full-time working woman as an administrative assistant at General Business Services. It was during this time in her life that Val embraced being a self-sufficient and independent woman, and she met one of her dearest friends Mary Ann Courbron.  Her successful adaptation to the working environment was a fulfilling experience and source of pride that gave her confidence.

In 2001, it was love at first sight when Val met Joe Monello on the night of his 65th birthday celebration at That’s Amore. They became inseparable and married in 2003.  Val and Joe shared the same sense of humor, sense of importance of family, and sense of loyalty to each other.  They enjoyed dancing, eating out, going to the movies,hitting the casinos with their friends Dick and Mary Petrocci, celebrating the holidays with family and friends, and attending most, if not all, of their grandchildren’s sporting events and dance recitals.  

She was a talented artist and had a beautiful singing voice but never had the confidence to showcase either of her gifts.  Val had an eclectic taste in music ranging from “The Twelfth of Never'' by Johnny Mathis to “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone.  She loved to dance and could “cut a rug” on the dance floor…especially if it was a polka.  Although she adored her children, she cherished being a grandmother and great-grandmother, and boy, she was an extraordinairly fun and loving one. Val had a beautiful soul. She was a loving, kind, extremely generous in every way, compassionate, selfless woman who loved her family and friends unconditionally, and her light and love will continue to shine.

Valerie is survived by her devoted husband, Joseph A. Monello.  She was the cherished mother of Clarice Poole (Pat) and the late William J. Fay (Lisa).  She is survived by her stepchildren Sheri Monello Davies, Allan Monello, Jackie Monello Felton (Jack), and Karen Monello Grymes (Keith);  17 grandchildren – Ryan (Samantha) and Kevin Poole, Jake and Luke Fay, Patrick Poole (Christina), Linda Frank (Rod), Tracy Simmons (Eddie), Michael, Chris and Justin Davies, Lindsay and Cameryn Grymes, Sierra Dailey (Skyler), Carly Segal (Josh) and Taylor Monello, and Joey and Olivia Felton; 12 great-grandchildren – Ella and Emmie Olson-Poole, Ashley and Jordan Walter, Sebastian and Alexia Poole, Payton and Raymond Birch, Faith Simmons, Brody Davies, and Scarlette and Stiles Dailey. Valerie was preceded in death by her sisters Caroline Schroeder and Kathleen Harenda and a niece, Karen Stewart.

Services for Valerie will take place on May 9, 2022 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at 6701 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood, MD 20855. Family will receive visitors between 11:00-12:00 p.m. A funeral Mass will follow at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Valerie’s name to PSC Partners Seeking a Cure, 6900 E. Belleview Ave. Suite 202, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. (https://pscpartners.org/get-involved/donate.html