Valerie A. Winters

Valerie Ann Winters of Smithfield, RI died on July 3, 2020 at the age of 62.  She is survived by her brother Alec and his wife Becki Ambrose-Winters of Davis, California, her niece Arden Ambrose-Winter of Kansas City, Missouri, and her aunt Polly Tucker of Cumberland, RI.  She was predeceased by her parents Merilyn (Tucker) and Roger Winters, her sister Pamela, and her brother Christopher.

Born in Westfield, New Jersey, Valerie was active in her community, singing in the Mt. Horeb Methodist Church choir and playing in the hand bell choir with her mother.  She graduated from Bridgewater/Raritan High School in 1976 and from Princeton University in 1980, where she majored in  Biology.

Valerie worked in Manhattan for Plenum Publishing and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.  Her main passion was folk music and festivals as well as Contra and folk dancing.  She enjoyed following these genres with her long-time friends Hadas Parag and Dan Howard.  With Hadas she shared a love of baking, cats, and Contra dancing, while she and Dan found meaning in Contra dancing and folk music.  

She was an avid reader and an active member of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Princeton Book Club and the East Smithfield Library Book Club, played baritone ukulele with the Rhode Island Strummers, and was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Lincoln.  

Her family would like to thank the devoted, loving, and skilled staff at Hebert Health and Rehabilitation in Smithfield, RI who assisted Valerie in gaining her independence after a devastating fall and in her transitioning to Smithfield Woods Senior Living where she made many new friends and even more memories.

Burial will be private.  A celebration of Valerie's life will be held on Saturday, June 19 at 10 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 55 Woodland Street, Lincoln, RI 02865. Donations in Valerie's name may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be shared at bellowsfuneralchapel.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Valerie A. Winters, please visit our floral store.