Valerie J. Army

Valerie J. (Cooke) Army, age 89, formerly of Grafton and Millbury, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 5, 2026, after a brief illness.

Her husband of 64 years, Victor A. Army, Jr., passed away in 2021.

Family and Survivors

Children: Lynne Zucchi and her husband, Jeff, of North Kingstown, RI; Russell Army and his wife, Cindy, of Kingston, NH; and Brian Army and his wife, Maureen, of Millbury.

Grandchildren: Eric Army and his wife, Lacey, of Cranston, RI; Michael Army and his wife, Ore, of Manchester, NH; Shannon Morse and her husband, Chris, of Manchester, NH; Asa Army and his wife, Zoe, of Worcester; Anna Army of Worcester; and Adam Army of Millbury.

Great-Grandchildren: Celia, Ian, Gavin, Keeva, Cyrus, Zoe, Nina, and Percy.Sisters: Joyce Baker (Bob) of Florida and Lauren Benoit (Bob) of South Carolina.Extended Family: She also leaves extended family in England.

Val was predeceased by her parents, Ernest and Olive Cooke, and her brother, Alan Cooke.

Early Life and Journey

Val was born in Birmingham, England, in 1937. Her family endured a fraught time in world history, living through and witnessing firsthand the effects of World War II on the industrial area of Birmingham where they lived. After the house across the street was bombed, her mother packed a few suitcases for her three young children and got on the first train they could out of the city. Family lore has it that Olive got off in a place that looked safe; a woman offered them tea and found them a place to shelter in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England—the birthplace and burial site of William Shakespeare—for the next few years. Her father stayed behind in the city to work in the war effort.

In 1951, they emigrated to the United States, settling in Sutton, Massachusetts, where the family embraced and built the postwar American dream. Valerie married Victor A. Army, Jr. of Millbury, Mass., on February 16, 1957. Vic and Val raised their family and built their business, Army Electric Company, in Grafton. In 2014, they moved to Millbury to be closer to family. Valerie reveled in her grandchildren and spent many years caring for them when they were young. She created a family tradition of an annual Cape Cod vacation that still endures 22 years later.

Life and Legacy

Valerie and Victor loved to travel and returned to England many times. They thought nothing of getting in the car to drive 18 hours to visit their daughter in Indiana, or heading to Tennessee or New Hampshire to attend grandchildren’s competitions. They never missed any local concerts or games, and enjoyed many road trips to Florida to visit her parents and sisters as well.

Val loved to antique and had an impressive collection of Depression Glass. They had a wide and energetic circle of friends and spent many “Happy Hours” together. Valerie was a competitive wordsmith who could beat most people in Scrabble and later Words with Friends. Her life was full with family, gardening, volunteering, and traveling with Victor.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Eddy Pond West for the exceptional care and happiness given to Val in her final years and days.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Valerie’s life by gathering for a time of visitation on Sunday, November 1st from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 N. Main Street, Millbury. Her Celebration of Life will follow at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial in Central Cemetery will be held privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Clare Bridge Memory care, Brookdale Eddy Pond, 669 Washington Street, Auburn, MA 01501.

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If you wish to send flowers to these services, Mulhane Home for Funerals recommends contacting a local florist directly for better value and selection.

Local Florist:

Floral Boutique 508-754-5637 www.floralboutiquemillbury.com 

Posies N Presents 508-581-4164 www.posiesnpresents.com