Valerie Ann Sellers, 84, a 55-year resident of Edgewater, MD, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2019. Born on April 7, 1934 in Ogdensburg, NY to the late John and Edith Clark, Valerie was the youngest of four daughters. After graduating from high school, Valerie enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served as a WAVE during the Korean War era. While serving in the Navy, Valerie met a handsome seaman named Joe, and they were married in April 1953. Together they raised five children. While Valerie’s priority and passion were being a devoted wife, mother and homemaker, she was also her husband’s business partner. They owned the former BOSN Locker in Mayo where Joe made and sold custom boat covers and sails, and Valerie sold Artisan collectibles, yarns and candles. In her later years, Valerie worked as a restaurant hostess at the former Old Country Buffet, where she loved to interact with guests. A devout Catholic, Valerie was a former member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville, MD where she volunteered as a greeter at weddings and funerals and also served on the Lazarus Committee. For the past 20 years, Valerie was a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Edgewater. Valerie enjoyed fireworks, movies and dining out. She was a gifted knitter and created more than 5,000 watch caps for homeless shelters.
In addition to her parents, Valerie was preceded in death by her loving husband of 39 years, Joseph Samuel Sellers who died in 1992; her grandson, Tyler Sellers who died in 2017 and her three sisters, Helen Doyle, Betty Taylor and Rita Bouchy. She is survived by her five children, April Ann Sellers of Columbia, MD, Michael Joseph Sellers of McDonald, PA, David John Sellers of Edgewater, MD, Beth Marie Sellers of Glen Burnie, MD and Peter Thomas Sellers of Annapolis, MD; five grandchildren, Jonathan Gerritz, Matthew and Luke Sellers, Stephanie Rey, Jessica Sellers and Kaitlin Carr; and two great-grandchildren.
Friends are invited to celebrate Valerie’s life with her family on Tuesday, January 15, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Wednesday, January 16 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 515 Loch Haven Road, Edgewater. Burial will follow at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th floor, New York, NY 10001 or at Alzfdn.org.
Online condolences and tributes may be offered by accessing the Memory Wall link at the top of this page.