VALERIE ANN POWER ROLAND
JANUARY 27, 1960 – DECEMBER 8, 2016
WIFE, SISTER, AUNT, NURSE, MARATHONER, HIKER, CANOEIST, KAYAKER, CYCLIST, HELI-SKIER
Valerie was born in Grand Falls-Windsor, the second eldest of seven. Parents Jenny and Jack Power, having grown up in large Catholic families, wished to continue the tradition. Garry was born in 1958, Valerie 1960, Leo 1961, Jackie 1962, Tony 1964, Lori Ann 1967, and Cory 1971. Valerie received her early education at St. Joseph’s Academy and St. Catherine’s Regional High School, under the direction of the Presentation Sisters.
A natural leader, Valerie was active in extra-curricular activities including Brownies, Girl Guides, and the 67 Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corps (RCSCC). As kids we teased Valerie with the incessant singing of the Scouts’ song ‘The Happy Wanderer” with the chorus:
“Val-deri, Val-dera,
Val-deri,
Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Val-deri, Val-dera,
My knapsack on my back.”
In retrospect, the “The Happy Wanderer” song foreshadowed Valerie’s future, as life saw her happily wandering through approximately 25 countries.
Some of Valerie’s happiest days were spent in her Mom’s hometown of Fleur de Lys. She cherished her Grandparents, Catherine (Kit) and Leo Shea and found camaraderie with the beautiful, happy, and hardworking people of the community. Under the tutelage of her Grandfather Skipper Shea and Uncles Bill, Jim, and Angus, Valerie discovered the joys of salt water and our Newfoundland fishery. Jigging cod for delectable fish stews, cooked in heavy cast iron pots, in the boat or on a beach, was a favoured ritual.
As a teenager, Valerie was the leader of her Squad in Sea Cadets and over the course of four years, travelled to Cadet camp in Greenwood, Nova Scotia and Comox, Vancouver Island, BC. Following high school graduation in 1977, she worked with the Sea Cadets for a summer in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, and it was there she met Mene Woodward, who would remain her lifelong friend.
Family neighbour, Mary Grimes, managed the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in our hometown in the 1970s, providing Valerie with one of her important early work experiences. On occasion when unsold inventory was available at night’s end, employees were entitled to buy the chicken for $0.10 a piece. Our family was always eager to greet Valerie when she arrived home from work!
Her family regularly attended Sunday morning Mass, and spent the balance of the day enjoying her Mom’s dinner and listening to her parents’ record albums and, of course, her Dad’s guitar playing and singing. Valerie’s childhood friends included and remained Peggy Byrne, Katrina Barry and Bernadette Bouzane.
Valerie started post-secondary studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland in September 1977 and lived on campus in Curtis House. In 1979, her Mom and Dad decided to move the family to British Columbia where Dad secured employment with the Port Hardy Utah Copper Mine. Valerie loved the experience and decided BC would become her home. She was enamoured with BC, with the majesty of the Coast Mountains and the Rockies, the wild and expansive Pacific Ocean, and the spectacular forests and massive land base.
Valerie’s love of nature and outdoor activities was nurtured by her Dad, and her advocacy for legitimate environmental causes blossomed during her years in BC.
Dad taught Valerie to canoe in NL, and she went on to canoe/kayak the great rivers of Northwest Canada including the Nahanni, the Stikine, and the Snake. National Geographic stated “The South Nahanni is what Everest is to Mountaineers – Remote, Breathtaking and Mystical”. Valerie marveled at the sight of Nahanni’s Virginia Falls, which boast an awe-inspiring height, which is twice that of Niagara Falls.
One of Valerie’s favourite wilderness experiences, widely regarded as one of Canada’s quintessential lake canoeing experiences, was a six day expedition on the Bowron Lakes, a 116 km chain of six major lakes through the scenic Cariboo Mountains in northern BC.
In 1980 eldest brother Garry became ill and was admitted to the Port Hardy hospital. Valerie was deeply impacted and she resolved to become a nurse like her sister Jackie. Valerie completed a Diploma in Nursing in 1987 from Camosum College in Victoria, and in 1997 earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree from the University of British Columbia. Valerie’s nursing career was largely spent in the Emergency, Intensive/Critical Care Departments. In BC, she worked in Victoria, Powell River, Burnaby, Fort St. John, Campbell River, and Port Hardy. She also worked in her hometown of Grand Falls-Windsor and in New Orleans, LA, and from 1998-2004, Valerie worked at the King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Valerie had some very interesting international experiences. There was an offer of a dowry of 100 camels to her Dad from a suitor, a Saudi Arabian Prince. Valerie was not amused. While in Riyadh, she also received a police warning to cover her head while strolling outside. From her base in Riyadh, she excitedly explored many exotic countries, always sending postcards, letters and gifts for family.
To celebrate her 40th birthday, Valerie decided to run the 1999 Royal Victoria Marathon – training primarily on a treadmill in Saudi Arabia. Family and friends always revelled in Valerie’s frequent and thoughtful handwritten letters and notes – she was undoubtedly one of Canada’s last great letter writers.
Valerie and Dayne Roland affirmed their romantic relationship with marriage on August 22, 2009. Having married the love of her life, they commenced construction of a new house in Port Hardy. On May 10, 2010, Valerie and Dayne received the dreaded news of her diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells that destroys the bone marrow. The prognosis was bleak given the cancer is incurable. Amazingly, Valerie never broke stride and, together with Dayne, resolved against letting cancer define her. Valerie worked until the cancer dictated otherwise. Her last night shift was interrupted with bouts of serious pain.
Post work life, Valerie threw herself into various projects and fitness endeavours while plotting ways to stay alive. In April 2011 she completed a 34 km walk on the Galloping Goose Trail in Victoria which was organized by the Roland family. The passing of Valerie’s Mom in 2011 and of her Dad in 2015 was devastating.
On March 3, 2013 Valerie and family were in St. John’s and attended a concert by The Five Tenors. The Tenors dedicated the singing of “Hallelujah” to Valerie. She held hands with her Dad and the tears flowed.
Committed to giving back, in 2015 Valerie and Dayne entered “Team Storm” in the BC Cancer Foundation’s “Ride to Conquer Cancer”. The two-day event involved cycling 220 kms from Vancouver to Seattle, Washington. A gale force wind and rainstorm unleashed serious damage and wreaked havoc for participants. Despite being very ill, Valerie completed the entire course, at one point reaching downhill speeds in excess of 70 kms/hour!
In August 2016, “Team Storm” participated in the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s “Ride to Conquer Cancer”. Cancer had seriously ravaged Valerie’s body but not her indomitable will and spirit. The 220 km route from Calgary to Okotoks saw Valerie complete 10 kms on Day 1, and later that day she biked across the finish line with her teammates. On Day 2 Valerie once again summoned the strength to bike across the finish line with her teammates- an amazing feat considering she had to have an intravenous infusion on both mornings. Team Storm, with Valerie as Captain, and with teammates Dayne, brothers Leo and Cory, Donna Zimmerman, and Barry Sullivan raised $56,000 over two years for the BC and Alberta Cancer Foundations.
Of all the indignities cancer forced upon Valerie none broke her spirit except for what she considered the greatest privilege afforded her in life – to work and to care for others. She would never accept the loss of her ability to work. On Wednesday, November 23 Valerie was admitted to the Port Hardy Hospital. Jackie, Lori Ann, Leo, Cory, Dayne, family and friends were at Valerie’s bedside to care for her. From her hospital bed, Valerie wrote Christmas cards, organized Christmas gifts including one for brother Tony and his family.
Father Dino Villadiego administered the Anointment of the Sick Sacrament and on the day before her passing Father Dino said the Prayer for the Commendation of the Dying at Valerie’s bedside. On the day of her passing, Valerie listened to Dad’s music, a performance by Jackie of the song “Peace” (Jeff and Sherri Easter), and prayers were said from coast to coast to coast.
In his 1952 eulogy of King George VI, Winston Churchill wrote, “During these last months the King walked with death as if death were a companion, an acquaintance whom he recognized and did not fear. In the end death came as a friend.”
Those words appropriately describe Valerie’s last few months.
God bless you Valerie. Rest in peace.
The Roland and Power families would like to thank Valerie’s caretakers including her colleague, friend and mentor, Dr. Howie Lee; Dr. Gregory Kutney; Dr. Willem Prinsloo; Dr. Adrian Yee; Dr. Caroline Holloway; and Dr. Catherine Fitzgerald. The level of care Valerie experienced at the Port Hardy Hospital, The Campbell River Hospital and the BC Cancer Agency in Victoria, was exemplary. Thank you to all the Nursing staff and health care professionals.
Thank you to Dayne’s Mother Jessie, Tanya, Jaime, Lindsay, Dan, Donna, Deb, Bev, Sheila, Jill, Aunt Myrtle, Uncle Pat and Aunt Bet. Thank you to Father William Houlahan, Father Dino Villadiego, Father Wayne Dohey, Father Leo English, Father Eugene Morris, and Father Edward Brophy for their prayers and support.
Valerie was predeceased by her parents Jenny and Jack Power; Grandparents Catherine and Leo Shea and Clara and Ned Power; Uncles Dennis, Wayne, Pat, Tony, and Leo; Aunts Veronica, Cathy, Ann, Nena, Annie, Eileen, and Bride; and cousins Sean, Colin, and Glenn. Left to mourn are Dayne and daughter Lindsay; Mother-in-Law Jessie; Sister-in-law Tanya (Jaime); siblings Garry (Bev), Leo (Judy), Jackie (Gary), Tony (Lea Ann), Lori Ann (Todd) and Cory (Trish); Nieces Cindy, Krizia, Sarah, Olivia, and Reegan; Nephews Jarvis, Sam, Jacob, Quaid, and Caelan; and a multitude of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends.
Flowers gratefully accepted or donations in Valerie’s memory may be made to Team Storm, conquercancer.ca or St. Joseph’s Parish, stjosephsparish@nl.rogers.com, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, telephone 709-489-2626.
Cremation has occurred in BC. Visitation will take place at Hoskins Funeral Home, Grand Falls-Windsor, on Friday, December 16 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. hoskinsfuneralhomes.ca
Funeral Mass 12 noon, Saturday, December 17 (her brother Garry’s 58th birthday) at St. Joseph’s Parish, Grand Falls-Windsor. Interment to follow at the St. Joseph’s Parish Cemetery.
A celebration of Valerie’s life will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, January 14, 2017 at the Seven Hills Golf and Country Club in Port Hardy, BC. Sevenhillsgolf.ca
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Valerie Ann Power Roland – 2016.source
death notice Valerie Ann Power Roland – 2016 – mortuary notice Valerie Ann Power Roland – 2016