Valerie Ann Kerxhalli

HOLDEN -- Valerie Ann Kerxhalli, 65, lived a life of love, service, and adventure. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts to Vera and Steven Kerxhalli, Valerie and her sister, Audrey, grew up in West Boylston surrounded by her large and loving Albanian-American family. They often played, and later worked, in their family's small grocery store in Holden - Christo's Fairway -- and shared adventures with all their loving cousins. As a girl, Valerie loved to dance and play teacher - passions she would continue for the rest of her life. Valerie attended Holy Cross where she majored in French, played in the marching band, and danced in school productions, including Pippin.

After college, Valerie embarked on the first of many adventures, heading off to San Francisco to work and then to Paris to study French and teaching at the Sorbonne. Her passions for teaching and French blossomed into a career of service as a foreign language teacher in schools in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Washington D.C., where she inspired countless young hearts and minds, some who followed in her footsteps. In the summer of 1992 on a blind date in Washington, D.C., she met Jesse Caplan, the love of her life, and the couple began their series of new adventures. They married on July 31, 1994 on Cape Cod. Later that year, pregnant with twins, Valerie and Jesse moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where they explored the Southwest, and where their beautiful daughters Isabelle and Rose were born. The new family moved back to Washington, D.C., where Valerie would stroll her baby girls through the National Zoo every morning, instilling their love of animals to this day.

In 1998, Valerie, Jesse, Isabelle, and Rose embarked on their greatest adventure - traveling halfway around the world to live and work in the small island nation of Palau. For eighteen months, the family explored the beautiful coral reefs of the Pacific, made new friends, experienced new cultures, and traveled to exciting lands, including Hong Kong, Japan, and Bali. Returning to the States, Valerie made a beautiful and loving home for her family in Holden, Massachusetts, created a most beautiful backyard garden paradise, spent summer days with her friends and family on Skaket Beach, and continued her teaching and dancing.

Over the years, Valerie also continued to serve - as a teacher's union President, the leader of the Women's Guild at St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church, and then as the Church's Parish Council President, guiding the congregation through the challenging Covid pandemic and its search for a new priest. Throughout, Valerie exemplified her core value of embracing diversity of all kinds, hosting exchange programs with teachers and students from around the world. At home, she cultivated an interfaith and multicultural household filled with traditions of her Albanian heritage, Jesse's Jewish traditions, and food, art, and teachings from their travels around the globe.

In their thirty years as a family, Valerie, Jesse, Isabelle and Rose continued their adventures, traveling together through the U.S. as well as to France, Greece, Albania, Israel, Morocco, the U.K., and South Africa. Valerie so much enjoyed spending time with her many close friends, playing games, traveling together, and laughing at silly jokes. This past October, Valerie was incredibly blessed and thankful to dance at Isabelle's and Taiki's joyous wedding on Cape Cod, Valerie's happiest occasion in one of her happiest places in the world.

Valerie passed away peacefully on February 6, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Valerie leaves behind her husband, Jesse Caplan, daughters - who she was so very proud of -- Isabelle (and husband Manx Taiki Magyar) and Rose, sister Audrey Kerxhalli, and brother-in-law Robert Kleinfield, brother-and sister-in-laws Louis and Sue Caplan; nephew Josh Kerxhalli-Kleinfield (and Emmy Calloway), and nieces Michaela Kerxhalli-Kleinfield, Lily Kerxhalli-Kleinfield, Elissa Caplan, and Chelsea Caplan.

Jesse, Isabelle and Rose thank the countless friends and family who showered Valerie with their love throughout her battle with breast cancer. You all brought such joy to Valerie and her family. We also thank the compassionate caregivers and staff at UMass Memorial Healthcare and the VNA Care Network and Hospice, and Joselyn Robinson, who supported Valerie and her family during her cancer battle and in her last months.

Family and friends are invited to visit with Valerie's family from 4:00-7:00pm on Friday, February 14, 2025 in Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 10:00am at St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church, 535 Salisbury Street, Worcester with the Rev. Fr. Mark Doku officiating. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery, Worcester.

The funeral will be livestreamed. See St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church on YouTube.

If you wish to remember Valerie, donations may be made in Valerie's name to St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church, 535 Salisbury Street, Worcester 01609 or Temple Emanuel Sinai, 661 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609 or the Charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Philip G. Haddad, Jr., Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St. Holden.

MAY HER MEMORY BE ETERNAL!