Valerie A. DeFranco, 62, homemaker

Valerie A. DeFranco, a former longtime Ridgefielder, died at Ashlar of Newtown June 23. She was 62 years old and the wife of the late Nazzareno “Nana” DeFranco.
Twenty-two years ago, Mrs. DeFranco was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. “The one thing that really defined my mom was she faced her illness without a complaint,” said her daughter, Eva DeFranco of Danbury. “She suffered a lot and for a long, long time. I don’t know how she could deal with it, but she did it and she did it with dignity.”
Mrs. DeFranco was born in Queens, N.Y., the daughter of Ann Gisela Navratil of New Fairfield and the late Anthony J. Navratil. She and her husband came to Ridgefield in 1962 and lived on Harvey Road. About nine years ago, Mrs. DeFranco entered a nursing home.
A homemaker, she had “devoted her life to her family and her home,” her family said. “In the wake of her illness she continued to live in dignity and enjoyed her natural surroundings and animals.”
Ms. DeFranco said her mother had especially enjoyed wildlife. “She would pick up a chipmunk in her hand,” she recalled. “She would let bumblebees land on her.”
A gardener, “she loved flowers with a passion,” Ms. DeFranco said. Years ago, “she had a huge flower garden.”
Mrs. DeFranco had been an active member of St. Mary’s Church and the Italian-American Mutual Aid Society.
Besides her mother and her daughter, Eva, Mrs. DeFranco is survived by a son, Anthony DeFranco of Ridgefield; two other daughters, Christine Kish of Danbury and Janet Townley of Bordentown, N.J.; three grandchildren, Jody Bonansinga, Ian and Hope Townley; a brother, Anthony, of New Fairfield; and by several nieces and nephews.
The Rev. Peter Wiley, pastor, conducted services Wednesday at the Congregational Church of Brookfield. Cremation will follow at the convenience of the family.
Contributions in Mrs. DeFranco’s memory may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Western Connecticut, Chapter One, Selleck Street, Norwalk, CT 06855 (Suite #500).
The Cornell Memorial Home in Danbury was in charge of arrangements.