Valerie A. Duerr

Mystic - Valerie A. (Giachello) Duerr, 63, of Mystic, wife of 41 years to William E. Duerr, passed away Friday, July 26, 2013, at Fairview in Groton, with family by her side.

Born in New London, she was the daughter of the late Wallace and Mary (Wheeler) Giachello. Valerie grew up in Waterford and later moved to North Stonington, graduating from Wheeler High School in 1968. After high school, Valerie attended Johnson & Wales University in Providence. She had been a resident of Mystic for over 40 years.

She spent her career in office management and bookkeeping with a background in finance.

Her interests included crafts, gardening, and local travel. Val and Bill would often take day trips to Newport and Narragansett, R.I.

In addition to her husband, she leaves behind two children, Jeffrey Duerr and his wife, Angela, of Dayville and Allison Zyrlis and her husband, Christopher, of Mystic; three sisters, Mary Ellen O'Donnell and Monica Sposato, both of Westerly, and Margaret Murano of Charlestown, R.I.; a brother, Joseph Giachello of Westerly; five beloved grandsons, Benjamin Labbe, Jordan and Justin Caye, and Owen and Caleb Zyrlis; her mother-in-law, Diana (Harvey) Duerr of Mystic; sister-in-law, Nancy Weber and her husband, Mark, of Milford; brother-in-law, Brian Duerr and his wife, Jeanne, of Starksboro, Vt.; and her beloved dog, Lilly.

Her family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, at the Mystic Funeral Home, Route 1, in Mystic. A service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Fairview Recreation Fund, 235 Lestertown Road, Groton, CT 06340.

Please visit www.mysticfuneralhome.com to leave an online message of condolence.