It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Valerie Jean Shomody on September 7, 2014. At the young age of 65, Val passed away peacefully after her courageous battle with lung cancer.

Val’s passions in life were spending time with her husband John, in her rose garden, and transforming their acreage on the lake into an oasis, Val also loved travelling, boating, planning the world’s longest bucket list, antique car shows, and walking with John and her dog, Shyla, in the evening. Val was born in Lac La Biche, and moved throughout Alberta and then north to Ft. St. John, BC, where at the age of 13 she met the love of her life, John Shomody. John and Val were married in Whitecourt, AB in 1965 and settled in FSJ until 1984 when they moved to Grande Prairie, AB. Finally in 2007 they settled into the Okanagan Valley in Vernon.

Throughout her life, Val was unreservedly devoted to her family. She will be greatly missed by her soul mate and husband of 49 years, John Arthur Shomody; her sons Grant and Shawn; and her five grandsons. Shawn and his wife Tara blessed Val with the most recent grandsons, Elias and Marcus, and Grant and Helen are moving through the teenage years with her grandsons, Pierce, Palliser and Phoenix. Val leaves behind her extended family: three sisters, Carol (Maurice) Hafner, Dawn (Paul) Shelet, and Lorie (Andre) Schutta; many nieces and nephews: Darren, Trina, Nadine, Austyn, and Mitchell; Great Aunt Natalka, and Great Aunt Olga; her brothers and sisters-in-law (and their extended families) Hans and Lorita, Steve and Ilona, George and Diane, Joe and Pat, and Mary Ann. We will all miss Val and her most beautiful smile.

Val’s Celebration of Life will be held in Pleasant Valley Funeral Home Tearoom in Vernon, B.C. on Saturday, October 11th from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lung Cancer Canada through the www.lungcancercanada.ca website. Arrangements are with Vernon Alliance Church Jake Klassen, and in the care of Vernon Dignity Funeral Home (250) 542-0155.