Valentown Greetings,
It is with great sadness that Historic Valentown and the Victor Historical Society must let you know of the sudden passing of our President, Harriett Neville. We are all in a state of disbelief and shock. Harriet has always been involved with Valentown in some capacity right from the time the historical society took over the responsibility of the Valentown site.
Her professional background and life time skills seemed to always be in the right place at the right time for us when we needed them and we're sure this is the same for the other organizations that she also generously gave her time to. Understanding the needs and operation of a not for profit organization is a special focus and skill that she completely understood and mastered. Most people just see the surface of an organization like Valentown and do not realize that behind that view is a certain way of doing things to keep the place running and offer it a future. And most important, you have to believe in that future. Harriett believed in Historic Valentown and we have all benefited from that.
When you volunteer to help any organization you often form strong connections with the other people you work with through shared experiences. At Valentown you join a circle of friends that work together to tell a special story and you learn to speak a unique "language" that delivers your message and reaches everyone outside of your organization. You share ideas and celebrate accomplishments and reset after any set backs. You adjust your goals and get to work. Harriett set that kind of example for us at Historic Valentown and we all hope that this valuable lesson will always stay with us as we find our place in the future.
It is not easy to let a person we know so well become a part of our own history. They are still strong in our minds and yet their vibrant presence is no longer with us. No one is immune from such a loss. We are all connected and defined by the absence of special people who made a difference our lives. History teaches us that we should all share the responsibility to remember and record that person's name and tell their individual story. Harriett Neville will always be a part of Historic Valentown
Our deepest sympathy goes out to David Mitchell, Harriett's family and her other friends who are saddened by her passing. Harriett was a very special person and will be dearly missed by all of us at Historic Valentown.
As always, we are your down home hometown museum.
Kathryn White, Operations Manager
Historic Valentown - VHS
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 26, 11 AM at All Seasons Chapel at White Haven Memorial Park, 210 Marsh Road, Pittsford, NY 14534. Her interment will be private.
Garth Fagan Dance, 50 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY 14604
(www.garthfagandance.org),
-or-
Historic Valentown/Victor Historical Society, P. O. Box 472, Victor, NY 14564
(www.historicvalentownmuseum.org).
To share a memory of Hoopee or send a condolence to the family visit www.anthonychapels.com.