Valerie J. Carlsen 64, of Medway died Monday April 30th at Milford-Whitinsville Hospital after nearly a 6 year battle with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She had received excellent care from Milford-Whitinsville's entire staff, especially the nurses on the fifth floor. Her loving care continued as she returned home in hospice care with her dear friends Anne Huffaker, Cyndi Mulvey, Joan Power and Patty Sims. Born in Framingham, she was the daughter of the late John W. and Catherine (Dill) McNeil. She was a 1960 graduate of Medway High School and a proud third generation resident of Medway. She had been employed at the former Cushing Hospital in Central Supply Service for many years. After Cushing closed she continued her nursing career at Willow Court in Milford as a direct care staff person for the Department of Mental Health. She was the long time partner of Walter (Sonny) Bentley of Cocoa, Florida and Milford. Mrs. Carlsen leaves one daughter, Robin Mitchell of Listuguj, Quebec, Canada, and her partner Philip Barnaby; one son, Bill Carlsen of San Francisco, CA; two granddaughters, Lacey Barnaby and Heather Mitchell and her partner David Caplin, Jr., 1 great-grandson, Cameron; two brothers, Scott of Brooksville, Florida and John McNeil and his partner Mary Darkas of Spring Hill, Florida; and one niece Cynthia McNeil also of Spring Hill. Mrs. Carlsen also leaves Walter Bentley's children, Patricia, James, Tim, and the late Thomas Bentley. Her cousins and their extensive families will remember Val as a warrior who fought her disease with everything had. She brought her zest for life to many activities including gardening, the ocean, cheering for the Patriots and Red Sox and playing bingo. She especially loved the trips that she took to Nova Scotia, New Hampshire and Cape Cod with her cousins Jane and Bill Holtham of Natick. She never passed up a yard sale and was well known as a great shopper and an animal lover. She was indeed a blessing to our family. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday May 25th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of the Matarese Funeral Home, (www.mataresefuneral.com) 325 Main Street in Ashland. Donations in her memory may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Center at Milford-Whitinsville Hospital, 14 Prospect Street Milford, MA 01757.