Valerie Audrey Maginn

MAGINN, Valerie Audrey (Besset), age 91, of Centerville, OH, went to be home with the Lord on Friday, May 1, 2026. Valerie was born on February 22, 1935, in Throop, PA, and in her early years grew up on her family’s farm in Forest City, PA. After a brief time in Detroit, she moved to Kearny, NJ, where she graduated from high school and worked at her mother’s diner, The Rambler. Later she pursued higher education which afforded her very promising careers.

Beautiful Valerie modeled in New York City, a place she truly loved and spoke of often. While working for DuPont she met the love of her life, Robert Allen Maginn. They married and raised their family in Kearny, NJ, and Wilmington, DE, before eventually moving to Cupsaw Lake, Ringwood, NJ, and later Centerville, OH.

Valerie had a remarkable eye for design and color, a passion she nurtured through art courses throughout her life. Whether she was traveling, taking care of animals (she loved her cats), gardening, bird watching, reading books, collecting and polishing rocks, or preparing her famous potato salad, cheese cake and deviled eggs for neighborhood gatherings, she brought fun and laughter, joy and creativity to everything she did. Raised Catholic and a devoted member of the Episcopal Church alongside Robert, she was known for her volunteer spirit and love for all. Valerie loved the beach, and enjoyed traveling the world with Robert.

Above all, Valerie was a devoted wife, mother of 3 , grandmother of 9, and great grandmother of 7. She made every moment an adventure. Her laughter, kindness, and love for angels were hallmarks of her life, and she will be remembered as a true angel by all who knew her.

Valerie was preceded in death by her husband, Robert A. Maginn; her mother, Helen Besset; stepfather, George Besset; brother, Stanley Besset; and grandson, John Brennen Mathues.

She is survived by her children: son, Robert A. Maginn (Mia (Tommy) Maloney, Alicia, and Emma Maginn); daughter, Sharen Stamp and husband Don (John, Kyle, and Halle Mathues, Ryan (Michele) Stamp, and Daniel (Kristine) Stamp); and daughter, Sheila Hyland and husband James Hyland (Tyler (Emily) Hyland, Jessica (Josh) Root). She is also survived by her seven great-grandchildren: Yulie, Jaina, Addison, Silas, Saylor, Alexander, and Abigail, and numerous extended family and friends.

A visitation will be held for Valerie from 10-11am on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at St. Leonard Chapel, 8100 Clyo Road Centerville, OH 45458, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11am.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Southbrook Church, 9095 Washington Church Rd., Miamisburg, OH 45342, with date and time to be forthcoming.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SICSA, 8172 Washington Church Rd, Washington Township, OH 45458.