Mrs. Fortunata Valenty, 74, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, dear friend and colleague to all, died peacefully on December 3 ^rd , 2017 at her home in Fords, NJ.

Fortune, as she was commonly known as, grew up in Pandi Poblacion Bulacan, Philippines.  She came to the United States on an American Field Scholarship program and graduated High School in Columbus, OH when she was 15 years old. She went back to the Philippines and graduated from the University of the Philippines, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree at the age of 18.  At 19, she became a college professor at Far Eastern University for four years. She then received a scholarship at New York University where she earned a Master's Degree and accomplished halfway through her PhD in Adult Education.

Fortune was a skilled and talented Teacher, Counselor and Student Advisor for a career span of 44 years at the Perth Amboy Board of Education. In addition to her duties as a teacher and student advisor, she also served as Chief Examiner for HSE testing for the Education Center. She was honored to receive the Governor's Teacher of the Year Award for Perth Amboy Adult School. She was a member of the Workforce Development's Literacy Committee, Member of the National Academic Council for English Distance Learning Program, Co-Author of "Crossroads Café", a distance learning / teaching tool for learning ESL, successful coordination of the Department of Labor Programs and Middlesex County Employment and Training programs, resulting in her selection by Governor James Florio as a teacher representative for the SETC (State Employment Training Program) and Honorary Member of the NJ Association for Life Long Learning.  She was recognized as Most Outstanding Staff by the Learning Empowerment Achievement Foundation (LEAF), and received a Mayoral Proclamation from Honorable Wilda Diaz, Mayor of the City of Perth Amboy, acknowledging her contributions and 44 years of service in the Adult Education system.

Fortune and her husband, Russell Garis Valenty, lived in Fords, NJ for 40 years, where they raised their two children, Lynn and Lee.

She loved to travel, enjoyed cooking and dedicated much of her life to teaching, counseling and fulfilling her civic duty in the community. Fortune's real and abiding passions were her family and friends. Fortune instilled the values of generosity, kindness and a true commitment to family and friends.

Fortune is survived by her husband of 44 years, Russell Garis Valenty, their daughter, Lynn, their son, Lee, of Fords, NJ and her two Grandchildren, Gavin and Devin who are now 7 years old, as well as her 3 brothers, Dr. Fidel, Edgardo, Mario and Sister-in-Laws, Zenaida, Menchu, and Rita. Also, her bereaved nieces and nephews, Mae, Tina, Edgardo Jr., Christine, Omar, Kamille, Crista, Fr. Reynor, Eleanor and Raymond, along with grand nephews, Edgardo III and Tristan.

Fortune will be reunited with her sister Norma Santiago, her Father, Dr. Fidel Brigino and her Mother, Dr. Arsenia Brigino.

Fortune dedicated her time to assist others in continuing their education and overcoming language barriers. She dedicated her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, family and friends. She taught us the most important lessons of life... to love, to laugh and enjoy life.

"Each of us, whatever our talents, has service to give. And to do it well always involves learning, not once or for a limited time, but continually."

Visitation will be at the Flynn and Son Funeral Home 23 Ford Ave., Fords, NJ 08863, on Saturday December 9, 2017, 2-5 pm. A memorial service will be held in the funeral home at 4:30 pm.

Donations may be be made in Fortuata's name to the National Stroke Association, www.stroke.org/ways/give