Beverly L. Valentine

Beverly Lynn Valentine, 73, passed away on March 15, 2023. She was born on April 20, 1949, in Pittsburg, PA, the second daughter of Richard and Evelyn (nee: Cavanaugh) Balkey. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Janet (Jim) Schumacher.

Bev is survived by her beloved husband Kenneth Valentine; loving daughter Eugenie nee: Fasano (Mike) Frances; cherished grandchildren Jacob, Mia, and Joseph Frances; dearly loved stepchildren Michael (Kayo) Valentine and Valerie (Robb) Pratt; adored step-grandchildren Gwendolynne and Joshua Pratt; and her respected first husband Charles Fasano.

She graduated from the University of Chicago in 1972 with a BA in Psychology and worked for some time as a researcher at the New York Department of Mental Health. She later moved to the Chicago area and worked in banking, then for AT&T. She returned to her alma mater while working at AT&T and was awarded an MBA in Finance in 1984.

Bev married Ken in 1991, and they remained together nearly 32 years, until her passing. She was an enthusiastic nature-lover, earning Naturalist certificates in two subjects from the Morton Arboretum, and working as a volunteer Naturalist Guide in the Arboretum’s school field trip and summer camp programs. She also was a volunteer interpreter at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center for several years until declining health forced her to retire from public-contact volunteer work.

Bev and Ken travelled to the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe following her retirement, but her health eventually limited them to more local travels until her passing. Beginning in late 2012, she attended ESSE in Wheaton on a regular basis.

Despite her health problems, Bev remained kind, loving and cheerful. She had a quick wit and excellent sense of humor.

A memorial service will be held May 13 at 1PM at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, 550 N. Main Street, Glen Ellyn, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the National MS Society.