Valerie Ruth (Krueger) Sirrico, daughter of Alfred H. Krueger of Kingston and Ruth E. Merry of Duxbury, passed peacefully on March 28 at Wingate Silver Lake after a brief hospitalization following an accident. She was known to generations of Kingston and Silver Lake students, first as an elementary school teacher who with another, began an advanced reading program for early elementary school children. She firmly believed that a literate person was an engaged and involved citizen and that books were stimulating to the mind and growth of young and old alike.
Her second career was a decades long tenure as a substitute teacher in the Silver Lake schools. She enjoyed her two primary hobbies – reading and knitting – right up to her last days. Upon her arrival at Wingate Silver Lake at the age of 91, she embarked on a project to knit hats, scarfs and headbands for every staff member as well as most of the residents. In this she succeeded quite well. She read avidly and there was always a pile of books next to her chair or bedside. When she finished one, she eagerly would look forward to the next story or adventure in print. She was an accomplished baker as well.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Anthony F. Sirrico, and her siblings, Richard A. Krueger of Kingston and Anne Daly of Old Saybrook, CT. She is survived by her four children: Stephen J. Sirrico of Portsmouth, RI, David A. Sirrico of Kingston, Peter J. Sirrico of Plymouth, and Susan Mathieson of Sandwich; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A celebration of life to be held at Wingate Silver Lake will be scheduled at a date yet to be determined.