Valeria Lucille Brennan Girandola of Upper Freehold, NJ, beloved mother, grandmother, wife, teacher, author, and publisher passed away February 5, 2012 at home with her loving family by her side. She was 75. Valeria was a reading specialist and published author who held a Masters in Education from Trenton State College and was a graduate of Fordham University.  She taught fifth grade at Allentown (NJ) middle school, the graduate program at Trenton State College, and the fourth grade at Montgomery Elementary. She retired after 17 years of dedicated service in New Jersey education endeavors. Following retirement, in 2001, Valeria became the co-founder and publishing Editor-in-Chief of Spigot Science magazine, an online publication to promote science literacy for students and teachers in elementary settings. Spigot Science has grown to over 6,000 subscribers.

Born in Trenton, NJ, Valeria is survived by her husband, Rudolph, of 53 years; her son Lyle and his wife Kathleen of Princeton Junction; daughter, Christine, of Upper Freehold; son, Phillip and his wife Bridget of Lawrenceville; son, Robert & his wife Christine of Yardley, Pa; son, Neal and his wife Lisa of Freehold; son, David and his wife Kleo of Nyack, NY. Valeria is also survived by 14 grandchildren and her beloved sister, Mareta Brennan Fagan of Woodbridge, CT.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30am on Thursday, February 9^th at St. Gregory the Great Church, 4680 Nottingham Way, Hamilton, NJ.  Interment will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Allentown.  Friends may call Wednesday from 1-3 and 6-8pm at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 So. Main St. Allentown.  The family has asked, in lieu of flowers that donation be made to Arms Wide Open, Childhood Cancer Foundation, PO Box 258, Marlboro, NJ 07746.