Valerie Dieter

Valerie Dieter, 49, died on Tuesday, July 27, 2004, in her Willimantic home after a two-year struggle with cancer. She graduated from Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, CT, and Bates College, Lewiston, ME, and also earned her Master's Degree in French literature at Middlebury College. As a French teacher at several high schools before serving the Tolland, CT, community for many years, Valerie inspired in many students the enjoyment of and even passion for French culture and language. Her more recent focus was on her raising and loving her own two children, instilling in them a strong family bond and a respect for learning. Quilting, swimming in Caribbean seas and Maine's Atlantic waters, traveling near and far with her family, experiencing music, theater, art, and movies, and reading filled all of Valerie's years with pleasure. Valerie is survived by her husband, Peter Leeds; her wonderful sons Connor and Casey Dieter-Leeds, ages 12 and 9; her mother Beverly (Slafky) Dieter; her brother Michael and his wife Mary; her sister Mary and her husband Charles Pennington; her stepson Jason Leeds; several nephews and nieces; special friends Melissa Nicholson, Nancy Ouellette, and Marion Steinberg; and many friends who admired Valerie's kindness, generosity, selflessness, and fighting spirit. Visitors may call on Friday between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson Street (Route 195), Willimantic, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church, 46 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT, with assembly at the church. Burial will follow in the new Willimantic Cemetery. To acknowledge Valerie's love of the Caribbean and the French language and her commitment to social justice, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Haitian Health Foundation Save A Family Program, 97 Sherman Street, Norwich, CT 06360. Please visit www.potterfh.com for directions and on-line memorial guestbook.