Dr. Valeria Terwilliger

Dr. Valeria Dawes Terwilliger, 86 passed away on Dec. 1, 2021. She attended Marlboro High School and graduated early from NFA in 1952 in order to marry her only true love, E. Allison Terwilliger at 17. The youngest of five daughters of Harrison C. Dawes and Adelaide Terrel of Marlboro, NY, she was born March 22, 1935 and outlived her four sisters, Mabel, Vivian, Lillian and Florence. She is survived by her children Alvera T. Sylvester and husband Mark, Glenn Terwilliger, Carolyn T. Lahue and her husband Phil, beloved grandchildren Evan Pacer and wife Bernadette, Danny Terwilliger and wife Jessie, Eric Terwilliger and Kalyssa Constable, Jessica Voerg and husband Nick and Michelle Loupe and husband Dillon. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 61 years and a great grandson, while being survived by 9 great grandchildren.

Valeria worked at Wrights fruit stand where she met her future husband, moved on to Stanwick coil factory in Gardiner, NY, worked as a teacher’s aide for special ed. students in the New Paltz School District before becoming a student again herself. She received her BS, NS. Certificate of Advanced study in Education from SUNY New Paltz and completed her Doctorate in Education at SUNY Albany. She continued to teach kindergarten in Berea Elementary School and used an innovative reading program she developed. While teaching there, Valeria taught poetry writing workshops to early elementary students, wrote poetry and songs for her classroom including the Berea School Song which is still performed.

Valeria was a member of the Shawangunk Church, ran the youth fellowship with her husband Allison, an author who published her book “Scrapings of the Pot and other Dawes Family Sayings”, an artist completing pastel portraits of the family and familiar landscapes, a seamstress, a piano teacher, a world traveler, a baker, and a world class cook. She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, and “grandma great”, to her family and her bigger than life personality will be missed by all who knew her. Burial is private and for family only.

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