Mary Lou Wold Valentino
May 16, 1920 – May 20, 2022
Mary Lou Wold Valentino passed away peacefully on May 20, 2022, at the age of 102.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred D. Valentino; daughter Julie Elizabeth Valentino-Detro; her parents, Albert and Julia Wold; brothers Albert and Bill Wold; and sisters Florence Trossen and Rosalie Baum.
Mary Lou is survived by her children, R.J. Valentino of Irmo, South Carolina, Thomas Valentino (Jackie) of Richland, Washington, Joseph Valentino (Donna) of Denton, Texas, Christopher Valentino (Merilee) of Novato, California, and Mary Anne Oehler (Michael) of Boerne, Texas; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Mary Lou was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 16, 1920, the youngest of five children. She studied business at St. Catherine’s University, worked for the American National Bank and was a member of its Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mary Lou met the love of her life, Fred, on January 30, 1943, at a dinner dance for bank employees and visiting service men during the Winter Carnival in St. Paul. Their courtship was brief, and they became engaged before Fred’s deployment to the European theater later that year where he served in World War II.
During wartime, Mary Lou served as a Red Cross nurses’ aide and wrote to Fred every day for 22 months while he was overseas. Upon his return from Europe in 1945, Major Valentino and Mary Lou Wold were married on August 13, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota. The war in the Pacific ended the next day as they were traveling to Houston, Texas, to begin their new life together.
Mary Lou cherished her role as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and homemaker. She and Fred had six children. They lived in Houston until 1966 when Fred’s work took the family to the San Francisco Bay area. Nine years later, Fred and Mary Lou were on the move again, this time to Saudi Arabia on a two-year assignment that included hosting global dignitaries. They returned stateside in 1977 and relocated back to Houston until Fred retired in 1982. In 1983, they moved to the Texas Hill Country.
Volunteerism was very important to Mary Lou. She served others in many capacities during her lifetime. While her children were growing up, Mary Lou was always involved in their school and extracurricular activities, including room mother, Scout leader and sports. She was a hospital “Pink Lady” at Marin General in Greenbrae, California, earning recognition for her dedicated work.
While living in Boerne, she devoted time to many civic organizations, including the Boerne Public Library, and she served as a docent for the Kuhlmann-King Historical House.
Mary Lou was a long-time member of St. Peter’s Parish in Boerne where she was a member of the Altar Society and taught CCD. Mary Lou and Fred were active in the church’s senior ministry, and they supported the church’s many events and fundraising activities. Mary Lou was also an oblate with the Benedictine Sisters of Boerne.
Mary Lou enjoyed tennis, bowling, swimming, playing Bridge and traveling, and she was an avid reader. She will always be remembered for her welcoming and cheerful spirit, that twinkle in her blue eyes, her contagious smile, her loving kindness, wonderful cooking, her genuine love for Jesus, her family and her friends.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Morningside Ministries Cibolo House Assisted Living and Memory Care, and Alamo Hospice for their compassionate care and loving support.
Services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Catholic Church (www.stpetersboerne.com), Benedictine Sisters of Boerne (boernebenedictines.org), or Children of Strength (www.childrenofstrength.org).
Arrangements are under the care and direction of the staff of Holt and Holt Funeral Home of Boerne.
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