MICHAEL VALITZKY
Ellenville, NY and Gulfport, FL – Michael Valitzky passed away on December 4, 2021. He was born in France on June 20, 1932 to Michael and Anastasia. He met his late wife Xenia at a lecture in 1955 and the romance flourished even though he was already preparing to leave for America. After his departure, they continued corresponding and she finally immigrated to the US in April 1958 where they married two weeks later.
They started their life in Brooklyn, NY and Michael’s mother and aunt, and Xenia’s parents and grandparents soon joined them in the US. They all then moved to Englewood, NJ where they raised four daughters. Many years later, Michael and Xenia moved to Florida and became “snowbirds”, visiting the northeast each summer.
A welder by trade, Michael owned Val Metal Works, a sheet metal shop in Bogota, NJ, for almost 40 years.
Michael is survived by his four devoted daughters, Natasha Lanie (Jay), Lydia Kesler (Morris), Marian Mellin (Dave), and Katherine Kelly (Kevin), and by eight amazing grandchildren, Ben (Megan), Dominique, Sophia, Chefren, Ryan, Stephanie, Sean, and Thomas. He also joyfully welcomed a great-grandson, Miles, in November. He was predeceased by Xenia (July 2021), his beloved wife of 63 years.
For his compassionate care at Good Samaritan Hospital and Joe Raso Hospice House, we would like to thank the wonderful staff. His passing, so soon after our mother, leaves a big hole in our hearts.
Panikhida (wake) will be at 11:30 am on Sunday, December 5, 2021. Otpevaniye (funeral service) will be at 11 am on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at the Holy Virgin Protection Russian Orthodox Church, Nyack, NY with burial to follow at Novo-Diveevo Russian Orthodox Cemetery, Nanuet, NY. Paminki (reception) will be after the burial at the church hall of Holy Virgin Protection Church, Nyack, NY. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Michael’s memory to Camp NORR, 185 E Rambler Drive, Holland, PA 18966 (https://give.cornerstone.cc/campnorr) or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Hannemann Funeral Home, Nyack, NY.