Obituary of Blanquita B Valenti

Blanquita (Bird) Valenti died Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at her home in New Brunswick. She was 87. Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico to the late Esteban A. and Blanca (Sanchidrian) Bird, she graduated from Rosemont College in Pennsylvania. She taught Spanish at John F. Kennedy High School in Woodbridge for 32 years before her retirement. Mrs. Valenti earned a master's degree in teaching from Seton Hall University and in Spanish and Latin American literature from Rutgers University. She was a communicant of St. Mary of Mount Virgin R.C. Church in New Brunswick. Extremely active in the local community, Mrs. Valenti's political and community achievements include serving as Middlesex County Freeholder from 2004 to 2019, New Brunswick City Councilperson from 1990 to 2010, and as a member of the New Brunswick Board of Education and New Brunswick Planning Board. She served on the board of directors for St. Peter's University Hospital and Middlesex County College and was a founding and charter member of the Puerto Rican Action Board and a founding member of ASPIRA, Inc. of New Jersey. Among her many accolades, she was named "Woman of the Year" by the New Brunswick Sister Cities Association. She was proudest of her accomplishments in achieving non-homelessness for veterans, being named "Who's Who" for advancing the culture of the Latino American Business Community and being honored in a joint resolution of the NJ State Senate and General Assembly paying tribute to her meritorious record of service, leadership and commitment. She was predeceased by her husband of over 51 years, Carl T. Valenti in 2008; her brother Esteban D. Bird; her granddaughter Lauren Nicole Valenti; and her son-in-law Richard Dulski. Surviving are her children - Carl J. Valenti and his wife Beth of Somerset, Mary Dulski of Brielle, Maria Teresa "Terry" Valenti of Tierra Verde, Florida, Thomas D. Valenti and his wife Jeanine of New Brunswick and Rosemary Hanigan and her husband Jay of Flemington; ten grandchildren – Carl L. Valenti and his wife Alicia, Paul Valenti, Elizabeth Dulski, Rich Dulski, Michael Dulski, Steven Valenti, Marisa Valenti, Tommy Valenti, Ryan Hanigan and Sean Hanigan; and great grandchildren – Leighanna and Jamison Valenti. Visitation will be 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM Friday at Selover Funeral Home, 555 Georges Road, North Brunswick. Funeral services will be 8:15 AM Saturday from Selover Funeral Home followed by a 9:00 AM Mass at St. Mary of Mt. Virgin Church in New Brunswick. Entombment will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery in New Brunswick. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Supportive Services for Veteran's Families at www.communityhope-nj.org or to Women Aware, 250 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 or to the New Brunswick Public Library, 60 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.