Church-goer, 86, struck by truck and dies in Dover

DOVER – An 86-year-old woman, who was described as a devout Christian who dressed her nephew and niece as priests and nuns for Halloween, was struck by a truck after leaving a church service Friday and later died.

Sometime after 7 p.m. Friday, lifelong Dover resident Maria Bertha Valdivia was struck as she crossed Bergen Street. Her nephew, Frank Dunning, said that his aunt, who celebrated her 86th birthday in January, had finished attending an evening service at Holy Rosary Church and was walking back to her home on Bassett Highway.

Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Deputy Chief Denise Arseneault said the accident remains under investigation and that Valdivia was pronounced dead on Saturday at a hospital.

Valdivia was struck by a truck that belonged to Atlas Disposal of East Blackwell Street, Dover. The truck operator, whose name was not released, was cooperative. The truck was impounded and will be inspected by the State Police Transportation Safety Bureau, Arseneault said. She said the victim appeared to be crossing the street “nearby a crosswalk” when the incident occurred.

Dunning said family members originally believed his aunt had attended services at Sacred Heart Church, which she sometimes did. Sacred Heart Parish Secretary Patty Hyle said that Valdivia was known at the church as “a nice, quiet, charming woman.” Sacred Heart Pastor Brendan Murray heard of the crash, went to Valdivia’s side and stayed with her at the hospital until she died, one official said.

Dunning said that his aunt never married and was a “second mom” to him and a niece, dressing them as a priest and nun on Halloween. He said she was deeply spiritual, loved masses said in Spanish, and walked everywhere since she never learned to drive. She had worked at Howmet and at a now-closed container shop in Dover before retiring many years ago, he said.

“We’ll miss her. She walked everywhere and she’d rarely let us give her a ride. For 86, she was very strong and healthy and we attributed that to her walking,” Dunning said.

Bermingham Funeral Home in Wharton is handling arrangements. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@njpressmedia.com