Valerie M. Cosgrove

Valerie M. Cosgrove, of Ridgefield, CT, passed away peacefully at home, on April 10, surrounded by her loving family. Valerie was born in Tarrytown, NY, the eldest of five children. She took great pride in her Italian heritage and love of “famiglia.” Valerie learned from a very young age the importance of responsibility, leadership and excelling in all that you endeavor. These would be traits that she exemplified throughout her life. 

Valerie prided herself on academic achievement and governance. She demonstrated this by maintaining her place on the high honor roll throughout her school career. In high school she was elected as class treasurer and class secretary respectively. 

Though some of her proudest achievements in high school were successfully completing a one-year world history course in two months, achieving a perfect score on the Regent’s exam and studying Russian for two years. It was these educational and leadership accomplishments that earned her an induction into the National Honor Society and admittance to Marymount College, a private women’s college, where she was again elected to the student council for each of her four years.  

After graduating Magna Cum Laude, Valerie was chosen to participate in an uncharted, accelerated Master’s degree program at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY.

She often reveled in the fact that she obtained her Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and “Mrs.” all in one year, as three weeks after graduation, she married John J. Cosgrove of Yonkers, NY. 

They went on to create a family of their own having three daughters: Alyson and her husband Roger, Kerry and her husband James, and Elise and her husband Thomas, in addition to having seven wonderful grandchildren; Seamus, Catherine, Tara, Patrick, Sean, Margaret (Maggie) and Erin.

While raising her children, Valerie taught as a substitute teacher, served as a Eucharistic Minister, was installed in the Catholic Daughters of America as well as the American  Association of University Women. Later in life, she combined her love of teaching and books and worked as a librarian for many years in Armonk, NY. 

Valerie loved reading and was a consummate learner. She was passionate about all things beautiful and could find beauty anywhere,  whether in a kind heart, a colorful, fragrant flower or piece of art. She loved music, gardening, visiting museums, playing bridge, enjoying a good meal with her friends and talking to people about their lives. From her aunt, she inherited a sense of adventure, love of the ocean, elegant style and love of travel. Valerie did not just love beauty, she embodied it with her warm smile, kind heart, easy laugh and love of life. 

Valerie is survived by and will live on in the hearts of her children, grandchildren, siblings Janice, Richard (LeeAnn), Gail (Brent) and Roger (Pattie), nieces, nephews and companion, Raymond Goddard. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 24 at 10:00 AM at Saint Mary's Church; 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield, CT. Interment will take place privately and there will be no calling hours.

To view the funeral mass livestream, please click the link here, or use the "video play" button in the service schedule below the obituary. Valerie Cosgrove Funeral Mass Livestream

If you wish to send flowers, they can be sent directly to Saint Mary's Church. Or, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Bennett Cancer Center - 1 Hospital Plaza; Stamford, CT 06902, or online at Stamford Hospital Bennett Cancer Center

Kane Funeral Home, Ridgefield is in care of arrangements.