Mr. Valentine “Val” Verna, age 86 of State Street, Bristol, died Friday, March 24, 2017 at Silver Creek Manor, Bristol. He was the husband of Mary (Callanan) Verna, who preceded him in death in 1994. Born in Niles, Ohio, and a lifelong resident of Bristol, he was a son of the late Frank and Adeline (Nenna) Verna. He was the Valedictorian of Colt Memorial High School, Class of 1949, being the first recipient of the Pasquale C. Raiola Memorial Award for Athletic and Scholastic Achievement and he was inducted into the Bristol Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. Val was a maintenance foreman for the former Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp in Portsmouth and Bristol for 35 years, retiring in the late 1970’s. He was a recruiter in the US Navy reserve for 20 years. Val was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and a longtime member of the Senior Choir. He was an avid Red Sox Fan and enjoyed wintering in Florida for a number of years to go to “Spring Training” working part time for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was a member of the Cup Defender Association, loved spending time gardening, tending his grape vines for wine making and kept fit by running and enjoyed Salt Water Fishing. He is survived by four daughters; Kathleen Panzarella (Michael), Anne M. Verna, Celeste Verna and Deirdre Verna, all of Bristol, four grandchildren, Ashley Botelho (Verber), Chelsea Panzarella, Andrea and Edward Verna, four great granddaughters, Mya, Ava, Kennedy and Raelyn, a sister Zelina Bourdeau of Florida and his longtime companion, Karen Gagne of Bristol. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Anna M. Ferreira. Funeral services from the Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood Street, Bristol, Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 9:00 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 141 State Street, Bristol. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Chestnut Street, Bristol. Visiting hours Tuesday, March 28, 2017 from 4:00-7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. For online condolences, shared memories, information and directions go to www.sansonefuneralhome.com
 

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