Valerie Ella Berryann Cannizzaro, 72, of Hopewell Junction, NY & Edgewater, FL, passed away in the comfort of her home in Hopewell Junction, NY on February 18, 2015.

The daughter of Peggy & Charles "Cookie" Howes Sr., she is survived by sons Michael Cannizzaro (& Lori Conner) of Fishkill, NY & Anthony Cannizzaro of Hopewell Junction, NY; daughter Tina Cannizzaro DeBone (& Tom) of Los Angeles, CA; and grandchildren Jessie Nicole Zarrelli of Washington D.C. & Thomas Dominick Cannizzaro DeBone of Los Angeles, CA. She is also survived by her sister Lolly (& Terry) LaManna of Dover Plains, NY; brother Charles Howes Jr. (& Susan Temple) of Hopewell Junction, NY; sisters-in-law Angie Kowalski of Wappingers Falls, NY & Santa Lanza of Fort Myers, FL. She also leaves behind many nieces & nephews as well as numerous lifelong friends including Rochelle Cannizzaro of Hopewell Junction, NY, Jeanne Chapman of Essex Junction, VT and George LaCasse of New Smyrna, FL. She was predeceased by her sister Katherine "Kay" Ostroski in 2014 & former husband Dominick Cannizzaro in 2008.

Over the years, Val was involved with several family businesses including a family ice cream shop, Hopewell Auto Parts, Duradyn Auto Parts, MDJ Liquors, and Cannizzaro's Mobil. She was also very involved with community activities including the East Fishkill Rotary Club, the Edgewater, FL Rotary Club (which she was instrumental in starting up), the East Fishkill Lions Club, Golf League, and Bowling club. Val also acted as den mother, room mother, sports enthusiast, foreign exchange student host, and a chaperone for a school trip to Rome, among many other activities for her children.

Val was a strong woman who would find a way when told there wasn't one and could always be relied on in times of crisis. She was a generous person to her family and friends with a fierceness that made us all know she wanted the best for us - from always having an open door to anyone in need, to acting as the neighborhood chauffer on many spur of the moment trips, to places such as amusement parks or the Dutchess County Fair. Over the years, she enjoyed many vacations to Disney World as well. Val also loved a bargain and enjoyed shopping at flea markets. She expressed her wonderful artistic ability in her beautiful paintings of flowers & nature scenes which adorn the walls of lucky family & friends. She was an all-around incredible woman who touched and enriched the lives of many.

The family would like to thank her amazing caregivers in New York (Alice, Joan & Kerry) and in Florida (George & Carol) who became Val's friends as well as a part of her family. Also, thank you to all the friends and family who have been a huge support to her, especially over the last few years.

Per Val's request instead of a service, she asked that we celebrate her life every day with a smile.

Memorial gifts in Val's honor may be made to the Wild Dolphin Project, PO Box 8436, Jupiter, FL 33468 (www.wilddolphinproject.org) to honor her love of dolphins; a local charity for mothers with cancer and their families, Sparrow's Nest, 942 Route 376, Suite 217, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 (www.sparrowsnestcharity.com); or a charity of your choice. For online condolences and memorial donations, please visit Val's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.