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10/22/2015 12:00 AMAlliene Valente, 94, of Branford passed away Oct. 18. Married to the love of her life for 60 years, she now joins the late Vincent Valente. Mrs. Valente was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on June 10, 1921, daughter of the late Romeo and Catherine Campbell Painchaud.
Much to the consternation of her mother, Alliene spent most of her childhood upside down in trees. She was the captain of the basketball team and co-captain of the field hockey team while at Lebanon High School and graduated from Boston University. She helped establish dance and movement in the Wesleyan University graduate program. Her joy all through her 94 years was music and movement. Alliene taught generations of dance students in Branford. She founded and directed the Valente School of Dance, the Petit Ballet, the Branford Dance Choir, the Branford Dance Club, the Branford Dance Theater, and she was co-founder of Pro Dance.
She also taught dance classes at the Branford Recreation Department for many years where the celebration of her life is being held Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. At her request, all the students she ever danced with are invited.
In partial retirement, Alliene and Vin lived part time in Anguilla, where she directed the Sacred Dance Choir of Anguilla. In full retirement, she organized and directed the Follies at Mariners Point in East Haven. On Saturday mornings at her apartment complex in Branford, she held a “Music and Me” program. Always a free spirit, when asked if there was something she especially wanted to do on her 90th birthday, she replied it was to go skinny dipping. Her wish was granted while visiting her daughter in California. Although legally blind, Alliene created 3D art she called “Whimzys” that she donated to Connecticut Hospice, and “Whimzicles” for the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital. When not dancing, she loved to sail on Long Island Sound with her husband and family.
Alliene is survived by her children, Cathrene Youngquist of Branford, Andrea (Jon) Wilson of Branford, and Diane (Tracy) Stenlund of Santa Rosa, California; and her grandchildren Anna and Philip Youngquist. She was predeceased by her brother Kelton Painchaud.
Friends are invited to a celebration of her life on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. at the Branford Community House, 46 Church Street, Branford. The W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford is in charge of arrangements. For her online guestbook, visit www.wsclancy.com.