Mary Theresa Valla, 94, of Newtown Square, PA passed away April 21, 2025 where she resided for the past 5 years.  She was born on June 16, 1930 in Lynn, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Sylvester Bartlett and Margaret Carroll Hopkins.  She was a graduate of Saint Joseph's Institute in 1944, St Mary's High School in 1948 in Lynn Massachusetts and Trinity College in 1982 in Burlington, VT.

Mary studied at Boston College in Boston, Massachusetts and worked as a telephone operator until she married the love of her life, James J. Valla, on July 2nd in 1955.  Mary's chief passions were family, church, travel, community, and learning.  She was a devoted and faithful wife and mother. She loved activities with her family like birthday parties, sporting events, dancing, ice skating, swimming, singing, and traveling. She loved dancing and playing cards, especially bridge, with her husband Jim.  Mary instilled intellectual curiosity into the minds of her children. She had a wonderful way of positively encouraging outcomes from those around her. She was known by her family for knitting mittens and slippers, baking cowboy cookies and preparing green bean casseroles. Mary was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Essex Junction, VT from 1968 to 2019. She was devoted to Sunday mass, daily mass, and singing in the Choir.  She was a member of Catholic Daughters in Essex Junction, Vermont.  She was known to her friends for being friendly and warm-hearted.  She was very proud of her heritage as a 11th generation Mayflower Descendent of Stephen Hopkins and a 2nd generation Irish American. In 1976, Mary Valla was elected along with her daughter Teressa Valla, to be one of representatives to the Vermont State Caucus for the 1976 presidential election.  Mary Valla believed in the common good and social justice and walked the walk. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Mary loved learning. She always had a book open. While still having 5 of 8 children at home, Mary returned to college at the age of 48 and graduated 4 years later with her BS in Business Administration from Trinity College in 1982 in Burlington, VT.

Mary was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, James J. Valla, her parents Margaret Carroll Hopkins & Sylvester Bartlett Hopkins, her sister Margaret Frances (Hopkins) & Aggeo Scorzoni, and her brother James Frederick & Evelyn Hopkins. She is survived by son James J. Valla, Jr. of Worcester, MA;  daughters Mary Ann Valla of South Burlington; Teressa Marie Valla of New York City, NY; Margaret Helen (Valla) & Keith Barnette of Newtown Square, PA; Pamela Ann (Valla) & Daniel Boudah of Wake Forest, NC; Kathleen Marie (Valla) & James Blasquez of Manteca, CA; Beth Ann (Valla) Robtoy & Richard Miller of Clifton Park, NY; Michele Maria (Valla) & Paul Chisholm of Essex Junction, VT.  Mary is also survived by  fourteen grandchildren, Jeremy Boudah (Megan) of Durham, NC; Grace Boudah of Wake Forest, NC; Seamus Chisholm of Dallas, TX; Liam Chisholm of Chicago, IL; Nicole (Clarke) Peyton, (Tyler) of Roseville, CA; Ashley Mary Clarke of Sacramento, CA; Sarah Michele Clarke, of Sacramento, CA; Colton Robtoy of Clifton Park, NY; Trenton Robtoy of Chapel Hill, NC; Nicholas Miller of Clifton Park, NY; Ethan Miller of  Clifton Park, NY; Lauren Barnette (Victor Daniel Paulino) of Hyde Park, Massachusetts; Ella Barnette (Thomas Redner) of New Canaan, CT; and Ava Barnette (Jeremiah Taylor) of Dover Foxcroft, Maine. In addition, she is survived by her brother-in-law Clyde Verbryck, of O'Fallon, MO and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to thank Saint Anastasia Church and Theresa Montanaro for weekly communion that kept Mary close to her Lord and her spirits high. The family thanks her care givers of the past 5 years including Eileen Stasny, Nicole Roberson, Ilissa Braham, Joan Deming-Murphy, Claire Progner, Cathleen Rosing, and Karen Wright for all the care, love and support they gave during Mary's times of need.  The family thanks Dr Joseph Labricciosa for his dedicated service and exceptional care. The family thanks Mainline Palliative and Hospice for their attentive care, including Darcy, Nurse Sue, Sam, Kim Bennett and Lynn for her beautiful harp music.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Calling Hour will take place from 9:30-10:30 followed by Mass at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Anastasia, Newtown Square. Family and friends are invited to a reception at Charlotte's Restaurant, Newtown Square, following the Mass.

Inurnment will be held in early summer at the convenience of the family in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Randolph, VT.  Memorial contributions in Mary's memory may be made to The Mayflower Society, themayflowersociety.org Attn: Development Office, 18 Winslow Street, Plymouth MA.  The family invites you to share your memories and condolences by visiting www.haganfuneralhome.com .