Obituary of Edmond Joseph Valentini

Edmond J. “Val” Valentini

Edmond “Val” Valentini, 90, of West Orange, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 19, 2024.

Val was born and raised in Orange, NJ. He was a 1952 graduate of Orange High School and attended the Tri-Boro Barber School in Manhattan after graduation. He was drafted into the Army in 1953, stationed in France while serving his country during the Korean War. A highlight was visiting the Moulin Rouge. Val continued his barber craft while in the Army, cutting hair of his fellow soldiers for $0.35 a haircut, and became everyone’s favorite barber. After his discharge from service, he worked at a barber shop in Union, NJ. In 1957, he married his sweetheart and love of his life, Lucy Metta and soon after moved to West Orange. In 1963, Val started his own business and opened up Val’s Barber Shop on Main Street in West Orange, where he was in business for over 50 amazing years, closing its doors in January 2015.

Val was very competitive and passionate when it came to sports, both playing and as a spectator. He played football in high school and always loved the New York Giants. In the 80’s, Val had a passion for fitness and loved to play tennis, ping pong, lift weights (sometimes in between customers at the shop) and his favorite sports pastime was golf, where he enjoyed playing many rounds with his friends. You could always find Val practicing his golf swing, even while customers were waiting to have their hair cut. He loved to read and study his golf technique, always trying to perfect his golf swing. Val is remembered as a great storyteller. He loved and knew a lot about music and would often break out into song and give serenades to the delight of his friends and family.

Val’s Barber Shop was a beloved place for locals to gather and discuss the news of the day. Val was a very compassionate and charitable person and loved using his skill to serve the community and would often visit customers in the hospital or who were homebound to give haircuts out of the kindness of his heart. During the 60’s and 70’s, however, business slowed down as he would say, “because of The Beatles” and people starting to grow their hair long, which led Val to working an additional job as a bartender. Val worked very hard to provide for his family.

Val came to know the Lord in 1978 through his wife Lucy. His Christian faith gave him great strength and comfort and was an avid reader of his bible and devotionals daily.

Val loved his family, and always expressed how blessed he was and loved having them all around him, he will be missed terribly.

Edmond was the beloved husband of the late Lucia A. Valentini (nee Metta) who welcomed him into the kingdom of the Lord. Devoted father of Sabina Correale, Joseph Valentini and his wife Sharon, Connie Mauriello and her husband Joseph, Gina Lucarella and her husband John and Lucia DeFilippo and her husband Dean. He was predeceased by his son-in-law Ricky Correale. Loving brother of Antoinette Wild and her husband Robert, and predeceased by the late Italo Valentini and the late Filomena Padula. Son of the late Joseph E. Valentini and Sabina (nee Fiore).

Cherished grandfather of Marc Cappiello and his wife Yebusca, Anthony and Danny Cappiello, Michael Kimble and his wife Jamie, Bianca Lindstrom and her husband Erik, Gianna and Joseph Valentini, Joe Mauriello and his wife Lisa, and Michael Mauriello, Lucia Lucarella and Luke and Olivia DeFilippo. Loving great-grandfather of Daniel and Leonardo Cappiello, Noah Cappiello and Valentina Kimble. Edmond also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at The Dangler Funeral Home of West Orange 340 Main Street, West Orange, NJ 07052 from 4 to 8pm.

Funeral Services offered on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at The Saint Giles Chapel at Restland Memorial Park, 77 Deforest Ave, East Hanover, NJ at 10:00am. Interment will follow.

Letters of condolence may be posted at danglerfuneralhome.com.