Mariano Valentin

September 19, 1926 - September 8, 2016

On September 9, 2016, Mariano Valentín died at the age of 89 years. Mariano was born in Añascó, Puerto Rico. He spent much of his childhood on the streets of San Juan, shining shoes and selling used golf balls to earn money. Though he quit school after the 2nd grade, he loved to read and learn, earning himself the nickname “el professor”. Mariano proudly served as a Merchant Marine during WWII. After the war, he married Gloria Colón, his wife of 67 years, and they moved to New York City. Despite little formal education, Mariano taught himself English with a Spanish English dictionary and the New York Times. Years later, he studied to be an engineer and served as a Chief Engineer for the Statin Island Ferries. Mariano retired and moved with his wife, Gloria, and daughter, Baceliza, to La Sara, TX. In retirement, he worked as a foreman at the Santa Rosa sugar mill. Mariano was a “jack of all trades.” Plumber, electrician, carpenter, there was nothing he couldn’t build or fix. He had an undeniable love for the outdoors, and was an avid fisherman. Mariano was profoundly grateful for the opportunities he found in the United States, and always proudly flew the American flag. Mariano is preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Valentin. He is survived by his daughter, Baceliza Monroe and son-in-law Alan Monroe; his grandchildren, Rebecca Monroe, Jessica Martinez and her husband, Daniel Martinez, and James Monroe and his wife, Mary Beth Monroe; and great-grandson, Luke Martinez. Visitation will be held from 6 PM – 8 PM with a Rosary at 7 PM on Sunday, September 18th, at Kreidler Funeral Home in McAllen, Texas. The funeral service will be held at 10 am, Monday, September 19th at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen, TX. Monsignor Barrera of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church will be officiating. Interment will follow at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, TX, at 1 PM. Should family and friends desire, a donation in honor of Mariano Valentín may be made to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen.