MOREAU, N.Y. — Valerie A. Ungerer, who spent her life caring for others, died on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2025, two weeks after being diagnosed with biliary and pancreatic cancer. She was 81.

She was born in Kew Gardens, New York on Jan. 31, 1944, to Evelyn M. (née Birk) and Harold W. Kinney.

“The oldest of their five children, Valerie was often ‘put in charge’ and learned how to be responsible at a young age,” her family wrote in a tribute. “She learned the value of hard work and took great pride in helping her mother care for the younger children.

“She went to work as a secretary in New York City right from high school until she married the love of her life, Richard P. Ungerer, in 1964. Together they raised their daughter, Dorothy, first on Long Island, and then later moved to upstate New York.

“Valerie had always wanted to be a nurse but wasn’t able to pursue formal training. At one point, Rich became ill and needed dialysis. Val took this opportunity to learn all she could about the process and became trained as a dialysis technician.

“She cared for Rich at home, giving him his dialysis treatments until his passing in 2001. At that time, Val established her dialysis technician career at Fresenius, providing dedicated care to her patients.

“In 2008, Val moved to western Massachusetts to be closer to Dorothy and her family. She bought her dream home and made it a wonderland of antiques and vintage memories of times past. One of her favorite things to do was to hunt for treasures with her daughter at flea markets and consignment stores.

“Upon moving to Massachusetts, Val became a Certified Nursing Assistant and cared for patients in detox, the elderly, and those suffering from mental illness. The job of a CNA is not clean or pretty and they do tasks that few would want to do.

“Once her daughter remarked, ‘I don’t know how you do what you do.’ To which Val replied, ‘Well, somebody’s got to do it!’ Val ended her career at the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke at the age of 81. She always appreciated and thanked a veteran.

“At Val’s request, there will be no services. She wanted to be remembered ‘as she was’ and didn’t want anyone “wasting time” being sad for her as she lived a long, wonderful life and was grateful for it.”

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Valerie A. Ungerer is survived by her daughter, Dorothy Ungerer, and her husband, Steven Goluchowski, of Moreau, New York; by her grandsons, Alexander Hripak and his husband, Nicholas Salerno, of Washington, D.C., and Aaron Ungerer of Moreau.

She is also survived by her brother, Harold W. Kinney Jr., and his wife, Madeline, of Valley Stream, New York as well as by her beloved sister-in-law whom she considered more of a sister, Edith Ungerer McKenna Caristo, and her husband, Robert, of Putnam Valley, New York.

She is survived, too, by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and former colleagues who became valued friends.

Her parents, Evelyn M. (née Birk) and Harold W. Kinney, died before her, as did her husband, Richard Ungerer; her brother-in-law, Walter Ungerer; her brothers, John and Carl Kinney; and her sister, Gladys Carnahan.

“Val was a very generous and giving person,” the tribute said. “In lieu of flowers, please consider doing a random act of kindness for someone less fortunate or donate to your local animal shelter in Val’s memory.”