Aurora R. (Rubens) Valenti

Aurora Valenti passed away at home on December 3, 2022. She was born on July 2, 1936. Aurora (Rubens) Valenti was born to Luigi and Settimia (Pallonari) Rubens, in Ithaca, NY. Aurora’s parents were Italian immigrants and her mother was one of 10 surviving children, 8 of whom emigrated permanently to the US.  Aurora’s parents predeceased her as did her brothers Francisco and Alfredo August Rubens and his wife, Ruth (Baldwin) Rubens.

Aurora’s first spoken words were in Italian. She was bilingual upon her being enrolled in the Immaculate Conception School at the age of four. After graduation from eighth grade, she attended Ithaca High School, where she became a cheerleader for the sports teams. She was quickly surrounded by many friends. She graduated from Ithaca High School in 1953 and often reminded her classmates that she was the youngest of them all (starting school at four years of age).

After high school, Aurora left Ithaca to attend Rochester Business Institute. Upon graduation, she immediately started working for a renowned law firm in Rochester, N.Y. She returned to Ithaca in the early 1960’s when she was hired to work for prominent attorney, Walter Wiggins.

During her long tenure with the Wiggins’ firm, she was granted the title of Assistant to the President of Divi Hotels (in the 1970’s) after Joyce and Wally Wiggins started Divi Hotels.

Aurora enjoyed traveling to all of the beautiful properties that Divi Hotels acquired and enjoyed the work she was assigned in these different locations.

Eventually this newfound love of travel provided additional opportunities.  Aurora was often a chaperone to Trumansburg High School students where her friend Debbie Brown organized student Europe trips. Aurora was able to visit almost every Western European country. During one of the trips to Italy, Aurora was able to visit and connect with relatives in her mother’s hometown of Sezze Romano. For many years, she and her close cousin Elsie Luccarelli would travel to the Outer Banks and they made trips to Central Park to honor John Lennon. These New York trips would include visits with Aurora’s son Chef Tom Valenti, of whom she was enormously proud. After Aurora’s retirement, she joined her cousin Elsie on a cruise to Cuba.

In 1991, Aurora decided to run for Tompkins County Clerk and sought out her friend Debbie Brown to act as her campaign manager. Aurora ran a magnificent campaign and was elected Tompkins County Clerk. She quickly became a beloved public servant to the Ithaca community. Aurora would visit those in the hospital, at the Hospice residence, nursing homes, etc. to notarize papers and assist residents in any way that she could. For her second term, and those thereafter, she ran unopposed for re-election and continued this noble work.  Aurora was also instrumental in making the Naturalization Ceremonies for new U.S. citizens (in Tompkins County) into a true celebration for the new citizens and their families. She had local businesses provide live music, refreshments and flowers for each ceremony. Aurora most-enjoyed personally congratulating each and every new U.S. citizen.

In 1999, Aurora was elected President of the New York State Association of County Clerks. In 2000, Aurora was chosen as Clerk of the Year, and, in 2008, she was honored with the County Clerk Lifetime Achievement Award. Her position as County Clerk included running the Department of Motor Vehicles. In the December 10, 2011 issue of the New York Times, Aurora was recognized for her incredible work in making the DMV user-friendly. All of the recognition for Aurora’s outstanding work as Tompkins County Clerk was a testament to her work ethic and the generous and caring assistance she gave to all of her constituents.

All that knew Aurora appreciated her wit and humor. Aurora loved to laugh and had many tales to tell which made others laugh. She also had a quick wit and often had a saying or a song to fit any conversation.

Aurora is survived by her son, Thomas Michael Valenti and his wife, Lawson Harris; nieces Joyce, Cathleen (and husband Bob), Victoria (and husband Paul), Cynthia, and Vivian (who all reside in North Carolina), Cousin Elsie Luccarelli (and her sibling), cousin Leanne Field (and her 3 siblings) her cousin, Kristin (and Kristin's 4 siblings). Aurora had a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends. Aurora is also survived by her beloved cat Gigi (now residing with Debbie).

Aurora was, also, predeceased by dear friends including Barbara Auble and Peggy and Joe Petrillose.

Aurora remained close to friends Marguerite and Roy McCartney, Cousins Leanne and Elsie, Art and Sue Howser, Pitter Mosher and Mary Kennedy, all of whom contributed to Aurora’s care in the end of her life. Additionally, the family expresses appreciation to Debbie Brown who remained a close and devoted friend to Aurora for 42 years and became her caregiver from the time she became ill and was with her daily for the last six months of her life.

Special thanks to the Hospice nurses that provided assistance to Aurora as well as Liz Cohen and others that helped in Aurora’s end of life care. For those who provided various dates, education history, work history, awards, family information and support for the writing of this, your contributions are greatly appreciated.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Aurora in the summer. Visitation was held from 1-3 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at Bangs Funeral Home, 209 W. Green St., Ithaca, NY. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Aurora’s honor to the Tompkins County S.P.C. A.