Milwida Valentin
Minnie Valentin—beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother—entered eternal rest on December 22, 2025, in Stuarts Draft, Virginia.
Born on June 20, 1941, in Guayama, Puerto Rico, Minnie was the second child of Julia and Jesús García. In 1952, she crossed the Atlantic Ocean with her mother and five siblings, leaving behind her homeland to begin a new life in Chicago, Illinois. There, she braved bitter winters and the unfamiliar rhythms of a new world. From an early age, Minnie learned resilience, and through every challenge, her faith in God—first nurtured by her parents—took root and flourished.
In June of 1959, Minnie stepped beyond the comfort of her childhood home to marry Luis Candelaria. Together they built a family and raised five children: María, Diana, Deborah, Julienne, and Luis, Jr. Later in life, she married Ricardo Campos, and in time, Minnie left Chicago to settle in Stuarts Draft, Virginia, where she spent her remaining years.
Minnie was a woman of deep and abiding faith—a devoted daughter, a loving and caring sister, a partner of enduring love, and above all, a mother whose love was unconditional and unwavering. Her children were her joy, her grandchildren her heart, and her great-grandchildren her life. Though the burdens of health and time slowed her steps, love never loosened its hold on her spirit. Her struggles were many, from youth through the final chapters of her life. Tears flowed freely as she carried profound sorrow—the loss of her father, her mother, a beloved granddaughter, and sisters dear to her heart. It was a weight too heavy for one soul to bear. Yet Minnie pressed on. She never surrendered to despair. She leaned into her Lord, drawing strength from Him to restore her faith, guide her path, and mend her broken heart with His peace and unfailing love. And so, she journeyed forward, sustained by grace.
How do you say goodbye to someone who walked beside you through every storm? How do you move forward when the phone will no longer ring, the visit will no longer come, and the words “I love you” will no longer be spoken? Even the disagreements— once part of life’s fabric—now fall into silence.
We will forever remember her miraculous hands—the way every meal she prepared carried comfort, warmth, and love. Her baking brought joy and etched smiles upon our faces. She may never have worn the title of gourmet chef, but no one could nourish the soul the way Minnie did. Her food was prepared with devotion, seasoned with care, and served straight from her heart.
Dearest Mami, Mama, and sister so deeply loved—how do we begin to move forward without you? The same faith in God that carried you will now carry us. His unfailing love will hold us, guide us, and strengthen us, just as it did you. Go on, dear Mami, Mama, and sister. Though tears fall from our eyes, joy rises in our hearts knowing that Jesus has welcomed you home—to a new life surrounded by your father, mother, sisters, grandchild, and so many others. We imagine you dancing, singing, and rejoicing in a heavenly celebration indescribable by words. So, we do not say goodbye—but rather, until we meet again, at God’s loving side.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die."' John 11:25–26
A funeral mass will be offered at 10am on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Father Matthias Lusembo, Celebrant. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery.
There will be no public viewing or visitation at the funeral home.
