Valerie  Byrne

 Byrne, Valerie Monica D'Agostini.

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, age 78, Valerie passed away due to heart problems while in Irvine, California. She was of Stafford, Virginia, formerly of McCandless, Pa and South Orange, NJ.

Beloved wife of the late Dr. James C Byrne, podiatrist; cherished mother of Erin Crowther Scharf, Dr. James C. Byrne Jr., Sean Byrne, Colin Byrne and Ryan Byrne, Esq; Grandmother "Nonna" of Brooke Byrne, Brendan Byrne, Ian Crowther, Jacob Byrne, Cara Byrne, Eve Crowther, James Byrne, Fiona Scharf and Vivienne Byrne; sister of Catherine Fahey, Lisa Hall, the late Paula Caponetti, Dr. Robert "Bobby" D'Agostini, Claire Schwartz, and John D'Agostini. Daughter of the late Dr. Robert and Catherine D'Agostini. Mother-in-law to Bethany Romestan-Byrne, Dr. Stephanie Hackman and Michael R Scharf.  Aunt to many beloved nieces and nephews.

Valerie grew up in South Orange, NJ and was a graduate of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic grade school and Marylawn of the Oranges Catholic High School. She learned to fly airplanes before she learned to drive a car. She went on to graduate from Duquesne University School of Nursing in 1969. At Duquesne, Valerie met and married the love of her life, James Byrne, formerly of Greenfield, Pittsburgh, Pa. Valerie worked at three different Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, NJ. After having five children, she spent the majority of her work career managing her husband's medical practice in Union, NJ for over 20 years. Later in her career, she worked at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa and became a world traveler. Given her lifelong interest in the ancient Egyptian civilization, she authored and published fictional adventure novels under the pen name of Valerie James. She will be remembered as an alto soprano, an amazing family cook, daring cake decorator and caring home maker who made every holiday beautiful. She was a devout Roman Catholic who had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary. Valerie was known as a woman of remarkable strength, unwavering love, selflessness, and one to have never missed an opportunity to have a baby in her arms. 

Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 from 4-8 p.m. in the Edward P. Kanai Funeral Home, 500 Greenfield Ave. 15207. Funeral Thursday, 9:30 am in the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Paul Cathedral Parish--St. Rosalia Worship Site. 

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