SULLIVAN Valerie
Posted: October 16th, 2015Valerie Sullivan
1958 – 2015
Mrs. Valerie Sullivan, beloved wife of Mr. Dan Sullivan, passed away on October 5, 2015 at the age of 57 years.
Valerie Jane Wilkie was born June 2, 1958 in Nipigon, Ontario to Frederick Donald Wilkie and Lilly Doreen Wilkie. She and her two older sisters, Susan and Julia, moved to Alberta six weeks after Val was born. The Wilkie family resided in Nobleford, Milk River and then Lethbridge. Val attended Milk River Elementary School, Fleetwood Bawden Elementary School, Gilbert Paterson Junior High School, and graduated from LCI high school in 1976.
Growing up, Val always loved animals. From an early age, she loved horses, especially dapple greys. She took riding lessons in grade school and continued to admire them throughout her life.
In 1988 Val married the love of her life, Dan Sullivan. With her husband, Val raised English Springer Spaniels, showing them and training them in obedience. Val was assistant manager at Peoples Jewellers but then decided to change her career and pursue her love of animals. She joined her mother and sisters at Pet Parade, where she worked for 38 years, becoming manager and eventually owner. Her customers were her friends.
In 1990, Val and Dan welcomed their daughter Kendra into the world. It was their greatest pleasure to watch Kendra grow up.
Val loved walks in the coulees with her family and dogs, especially in the fall, enjoying the colours and crunchy leaves. Bird watching was another passion. She enjoyed gardening and her backyard was her private oasis, a place of beauty and relaxation. Friends and family were always welcome in that oasis, the site of many BBQs and family celebrations. Every season and holiday was celebrated, the house decorated with the beautiful crafts Val had made. Holidays were always a time when Val, Dan and Kendra welcomed family and friends for supper, laughs, and companionship.
In recent years Val pursued the photography of birds and nature, where her eye for beauty shone through. Waterton, Drumheller and Vancouver Island were her favorite destinations for holidays with family. With a heart of gold, she instilled a love of nature, gardening, animals, art and family.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 4 St. S., Lethbridge, AB with Canon Allan McCuaig, officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Michaels Palliative Care Unit, 1400-9th Ave. S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4V5 or PBS Masterpiece Theatre, at KSPS Public Television, Patty Starkey Fund for programming, 3911 S Regal Spokane, WA 98223
Visit www.mbfunerals.com to send a private condolence.