Valerie S. Waage

Valerie S. Waage (Johnson), age 89, wife of Rodney A. Waage of Albany, NY entered into heavenly rest on Sunday, July 14, 2024 at Teresian House Nursing Home in Albany. Valerie was born on May 7, 1935 in New York City and then resided in Valhalla, NY during her childhood. She was a proud graduate of SUNY Potsdam, where she earned a BS in Elementary Education and developed her life-long love of chorale and opera singing. She joined the Crane Chorale Singers at Potsdam and, after graduation in 1957, she completed a six week tour of Europe with the Chorale, singing at numerous festivals. Upon return, she resided in New York City, teaching elementary school in Ardsley, NY. She also joined The Collegiate Chorale based in NYC, where she sang as a soprano for over 40 years. As a member of Chorale, she sang with numerous famous opera singers, including Pavarotti and Beverly Sills under such conductors as Robert Shaw, Robert Bass and Leonard Bernstein. Valerie was an avid skier, joining Norway Ski Club in Phoenicia, NY where she met her beloved husband, Rodney, and made numerous lifelong friendships. She and Rodney were married on September 20, 1963 and soon after moved to New City, NY where they raised their 3 children, Christine, David and Karin.

Valerie loved the outdoors, spending summers enjoying their backyard & pool, hiking and bicycling during younger years, and days at Lake Nanuet with friends as they got older. In winter, she enjoyed skating on frozen lakes or at Bear Mountain State Park and swishing down ski slopes into her 70s. In between seasons, they liked to travel, enjoying bucket list trips to Norway, Alaska and finally Israel in their late 70’s. However, some of their best memories were made simply by visiting friends and family around the US and their yearly trip to Hilton Head, SC. Valerie also loved to host gatherings and parties at her home and always put out the most amazing spread of goodies for all to enjoy. A lifelong believer and servant of Our Lord, Valerie found her spiritual home at Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship in New City, NY where over the span of 25 years she served as a deaconess, taught in their preschool, sang on their worship team and was actively involved in numerous fellowship groups and outreaches, praising and serving God most nights of the week into her mid 80s.

Valerie is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Valdis Johnson and her older brother, Robert Johnson. She is survived by her loving husband of over 60 years, Rodney, and their 3 children, Christine Isley of Monroe, NY, David and his wife Rachel (Lyons) of Cobleskill, NY, and Karin Alcide and her husband James of Monroe, NY. She was blessed with 5 loving grandchildren- Matthew Earle (wife Maggie), Ariana Nero (husband Solomon), Lydia Waage, Joseph Alcide and Aidan Alcide and most recently a beautiful great granddaughter, Asha Nero.

Services will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024 at the New Comer Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd.,Colonie, NY 12205 (Phone: 518-456-4442) with a viewing at 10:00 am, Celebration of Life Service at 10:30, and burial in Carlisle, NY to follow. The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the amazing staff at Teresian House Nursing Home, St. Peter’s and Ellis Hospitals and Community Hospice for their care and comfort. In lieu of flowers, friends may make a donation to The Teresian House Foundation at https://teresianhouse.org/th-foundation/