Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:
WILMINGTON, MA — Barbette Alelia Brown Valente, age 64, of Wilmington, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on June 3, 2023.
Barbette was born on January 7, 1959, in Boston, MA; she was the cherished daughter of Joyce and the late Robert Brown. Barbettes family moved to Wilmington when she was a young child, she quickly became involved in the community, and she made many life-long friends. Barbette attended Wilmington Public Schools and was a graduate of Wilmington High School with the Class of 1976.
Barbette work hard throughout her life; she was a secretary and receptionist for several companies including, Olin Chemical, Koch Membrane, Alpha Tech and Moore Temp. Agency, she worked the line at Sweetheart Plastics, she was a trusted Nanny and a great cleaner for Browns cleaning service, Barbette also cleaned alongside her sister for 20 + years at Keep It Clean. And if that wasn’t enough, she followed in her dads’ footsteps and was a favorite bartender for the American Legion in Wilmington for over 10 years. Barbette’s great work ethic along with her endearing personality made her a favorite co-worker and a great friend to many everywhere she worked. She was a “people person” who was a great listener, she made everyone feel accepted and loved and she reached out to help everyone when needed.
Barbette also enjoyed her many hobbies; she learned sewing from her Mom, and crocheting from her grandmother, many of her “LOVE QUILTS” can be found in numerous households, crocheting was very relaxing to her as well as digging out in the garden. Her favorite color is purple, spring was her favorite time of year when anything purple was in bloom, she had a purple iris patch which she would divide and share with who every wanted them. She loved movies, old movies, Westerns, Shirley Temple, Little rascals and she didn’t mind watching them over and over. She loved to bake and cook, her specialties fried green tomatoes (she loved that movie too) and eggplant. Every family gathering had to have Barbettes potato salad which she loved sharing with family and friends.
Barbette looked forward to summers, heading to the beach, talking her dogs on long walks, going horseback riding or hitting the open road on the back of a friend’s motorcycle were her past times, she enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people wherever she went.
Barbette’s family was always a priority; she married her long-time friend Phil Valente in March of 2019 and they were inseparable. Barbette was a very devoted and loving wife, daughter, sister, and a special “Auntie”. Barbette was the fun auntie, the one who was there to help, listen to your problems, give you the correct advise whether you wanted to hear it or not, always had something special for the kids, the one to take them fun places, she was a true mentor and friend to her nieces, and nephews, and a “surrogate Auntie” to all her friends children. Barbette looked forward to spending time with her family, extended family, and friends; many great times were shared throughout the years and countless memories were made to treasure.
Barbette will be fondly remembered for her warm personality, her beaming smile and her huge heart. She had made such a positive impact on so many people in her life and she will forever be loved and missed by all who knew her.
Barbette was the beloved wife of Phil Valente, beautiful daughter of Joyce (Todd) Brown and the late Robert Brown, cherished sister of Peter Brown & his companion Debra MacKinnon, Aaron Brown & his wife Carole, and Amy Whalen & her husband John all of Wilmington. She was the loving “Auntie” of Alelia Whalen, Alexa Nims & husband Jared, Aaron Brown, Joseph Finn, Tabetha Finn, great-auntie of Savannah, Tommy, Jimmy, Franklin, Joe, Dominic, Sophia, Jordyn, Jacolby, Gianna, Angelo, Mia, and surrogate “Auntie” to her friends’ children. She was the dear sister-in-law of Edward and Karen Valente of Billerica and Cynthia Burke of Reading. Barbette is further survived by a very large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Family and friends will gather for Visiting Hours at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington, on Monday, June 12th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. A Graveside service to Celebrate Barbette’s life will take place on Tuesday, June 13th at 11:00 a.m. in the Wildwood Cemetery, 233 Middlesex Ave., Wilmington. To honor Barbette; please adorn yourself with something purple it was her favorite color. Immediately following the cemetery service, all are welcome to join the family and continue a celebration of Barbette’s life at the American Legion Hall, 5 Bay Street, Wilmington.
Barbette and Phil cherish their rescue dog Hank so they kindly request that In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Barbette’s memory to the Lowell Humane Society, 951 Broadway St., Lowell, MA 01854.
To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.
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