January 27 1960 – December 8 2016
Valerie was born in in Grand Falls – Windsor, Newfoundland to Jack and Jenny Power. Valerie spent her first 19 years in Newfoundland, going to school, spending summers in her mother’s home town Fleur de Lys and attending Memorial University. In 1979 the family moved to Port Hardy. Valerie loved British Columbia and made it her home.
In 1980 Val’s brother was seriously ill and she decided then to become a nurse. She studied at Camosun College and got her degree at UBC. She worked in Powell River, Victoria, Burnaby, Campbell River, Fort St. John and most recently in Port Hardy. She also spent time nursing in New Orleans and Saudi Arabia.
Valerie loved travel, adventure and the outdoors. She canoed several of Canada’s great rivers including the Nahanni, Stikine and Snake. She loved hiking and skiing. At 40 she ran the Victoria marathon. During her short life she traveled to 15 countries.
She married Dayne Roland in 2009. Tragically in 2010 she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. With several treatments she experienced quite a good quality of life. Her biggest tragedy was giving up her job and, as she said, the loss of her identity.
In 2014 Valerie decided to give back to cancer research. She rode the 2015 Ride to Conquer Cancer, a 200km plus bike ride from Vancouver to Seattle. Two brothers and two friends joined her and formed Team Storm. The first day 2087 riders fought gale force winds and torrential rains. Storm endured and completed the ride the next day.
In the spring of 2016 she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her oncologist radiated the affected area, easing Val’s pain and giving her a little more quality time. Val administered her own saline IV to join Team Storm in Calgary in August 2016. Val rode 20km starting and finishing each day with her team. They raised over $56,000.
Valerie was predeceased by her parents Jenny and Jack Power. 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.
The family would like to thank Dr. Howie Lee and the amazing staff at Port Hardy Hospital as well as Drs. Prinsloo, Yee, Fitzgerald and Holloway and the nurses at the Cancer Clinic in Campbell River.
Donations in Valerie’s memory can be made to the 2017 Vancouver Ride to Conquer Cancer.
www.conquercancer.ca BC 2017 Donate Team Storm
A celebration of Valerie’s life will be held in Port Hardy at the Seven Hills Golf and Country Club on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 2:00 pm