Maria Edemia Herbert, 93, of Lead, South Dakota passed away peacefully on November 11, 2024. Maria was born August 12, 1931, to Celso and Esther (Mondragon) Valerio in Ranchos De Taos, New Mexico. Her parents passed away when she was young, so her brother and sisters were raised by their Grandmother Sencionita Valerio.

Maria received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Aquinas College Grand Rapids, Michigan on August 1, 1963, and went on to teach at Marywood Academy in the service of our Lord as Sister Maria Aurora Valerio, OP (to clarify Mom chose Aurora when she took her vows).

After leaving the Convent, Maria moved to Utah to be near her brother Pat and sister Claudia, where she taught at Lehi Elementary, then Grove Crest Elementary. While at Grove Crest Elementary, she met the love of her life William Arthur (Art) Herbert, they married on February 14, 1980. In one night, Maria became a wife, mother, and grandmother. She continued teaching at Grove Crest for a few more years before she transferred to Cherry Hill Elementary to teach in a full emersion class. While there she was offered and took a job tutoring the kids from the PBS show Villa Alegre. Maria was a published poet and has won awards for her poems.

Maria and Art always remained in service to the different parishes they lived in. St. Peter Catholic Church in American Fork, Utah teaching CCD, cleaning, and helping wherever needed. Maria and Art moved to Tomahawk, Wisconsin and St. Mary Catholic Church, but a few years later ended up moving to Art's hometown of Lead, South Dakota and St. Patrick Catholic Church.  After Art's passing Maria remained in Lead.

Maria is preceded in death by her husband William Arthur (Art) Herbert Sr; parents Celso & Esther Valerio; brother Pat Valerio, and sisters Claudia Valerio and Aurora Valerio; grandson Mason Herbert; son-in-law John Rhodes, and godson Ryan Folks.

She is survived by daughters Mary Rhodes, and Suzanne (Stoney) Staggs; sons Michael, William Jr (Marie), James, Lawrence (Natalie), and Paul (Stephanie) Herbert, 17 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law Vicky Valerio.

She was a loving mother and grandmother to us and will be greatly missed.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 18, 2024, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Lead, South Dakota.  Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery at 1:30 PM.

Arrangements are under the care of Lead-Deadwood Memorial Chapel in Lead. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com