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Family, friends and teammates of Valerie Kratochvil — a popular and beloved Smithtown East student-athlete who died unexpectedly on Monday, March 4 — will gather this weekend and Monday for funeral services held in her honor.
Visitation at St. James Funeral Home is scheduled for Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. on both days. The funeral home is located at 829 Middle Country Road in St. James.
A funeral Mass for Kratochvil will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 11, at the Parish of The Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, 95 Nichols Road in Nesconset.
Kratochvil was a junior at Smithtown East High School, competing on the field hockey and track & field teams. She was selected this fall as an All-County musician. Kratochvil also played for the travel field hockey club at Long Island Field Hockey.
She is survived by her parents, Margaret and Ken, and her twin sister Laurie.
In a heartfelt post on Facebook, Kratochvil’s mother fondly remembered her daughter.
“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful girl Valerie,” Margaret Kratochvil wrote. “Valerie was beautiful inside and out. She was compassionate, caring, intelligent, funny and loving — the best friend that anyone could ever have.
“Heaven has gained a beautiful Angel. Valerie, we will miss you forever and will remember all of the wonderful memories that you have given us every day for the rest of our lives. We love you, Valerie,” the post continued.
Numerous friends described Valerie Kratochvil as a “bright light” in sharing condolences in comments to her mother.
Donations have poured in on behalf of Kratochvil’s family via a GoFundMe page established by Long Island Field Hockey Director Mallory Guerin. The money raised is helping to offset the cost of funeral arrangements and assist with other expenses while her parents are out of work.
You can click here to make a contribution to the fundraiser for Kratochvil’s family.
As of 3 p.m. Monday, the fundraiser had raised more than $29,000 through 511 separate donations.
Top photo: St. James Funeral Home
