Obituary of Valerie J. Thompson

Valerie Jane (Swierczynski) Thompson, 89, of Delmar, NY passed away on Saturday, January 23, 2021 after a long life well lived. Valerie was born on February 21, 1931, the seventh of seven children, in Albany, NY to Polish/Ukrainian immigrants Antoni and Josephine (Mielnik) Swierczynski. Valerie attended High School at the Vincentian Institute in Albany where she worked on the school newspaper. She spent a year at the College of St. Rose before marrying and becoming the loving mother of seven children. She was an active parishioner at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Delmar for more than 25 years. She would later enter the workforce as a Medical Assistant and Secretary for multiple physicians in the Albany area, an Executive Assistant for the NYS Catholic Conference, and a Vice President of an Insurance Agency. Valerie married John H. Thompson in 1989. She was an active parishioner of both St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Delmar and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Albany. Throughout her years there, she served on the Vestry, was a member of the Episcopal Church Women’s Group, and was a Eucharistic minister. She also studied Theology at St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry in Albany, NY. Valerie loved history and served as the Town of Bethlehem Historian in 1990. She was a past member of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Steamship Society of America and of the Civil War Round Table. She was active with the St. Andrew's Society with her husband John, who was of Scottish heritage. Valerie and John also enjoyed Scottish Country Dancing and for years were members of the Boston Branch of the Royal Scottish Dancing Society. She loved bird watching, cooking, reading, and gardening. Valerie traveled extensively with her husband after retirement, to places like Nova Scotia, Turkey, Italy, Spain, the Caribbean, and Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In addition to her parents, Valerie was pre-deceased by her six siblings, Casimir, George, Genevieve, Mary, Frances, and Helen and by her husband, John. She is survived by her seven children, from her previous marriage to Alfred P. Restifo, and their spouses: Mark Restifo (Sherill) of Ghent, NY; Stephen VanDyke-Restifo (Edna) of Voorheesville, NY; Bernard Restifo (Patsy) of Erwin, NC; Therese Hendricks (Walter) of Hopewell Junction, NY; David Restifo (Nancy) of Southport, NC, Christopher Restifo (Theresa) of Voorheesville, NY; and Karen Coleman (Thomas) of Walden, NY. Her stepchildren, John Gordon (Kelly) Thompson of Oregon and Winifred (Stanley) Kmiecik of Texas, also survive her, in addition to many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday, January 29th, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 30th, at 10 a.m. in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 21 Hackett Blvd., Albany. Burial will follow in Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Valerie’s memory, to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 21 Hackett Blvd, Albany, NY 12208 or to the Capital City Rescue Mission (https://capitalcityrescuemission.org).