IRVINE – Valerie Marie, age 77, passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept 30 surrounded by her family. Val was an amazing wife, an incredible Mom, and an extraordinary grandma who always put her family first, followed closely by her many friends and her love of horses. Val was a ray of sunshine. Never one to miss an opportunity to have fun, she celebrated life every day and she made everyone feel like family. She had a smile that could light up a room. Val loved life, and life loved Val. Wisely, she filled that life with the people and things that she enjoyed. At an early age, Val was known to pretend she was riding a horse until she was able to have one of her own. Later she established Northland Farms where she shared her passion for horses with others, eventually breeding and racing thoroughbreds. On Monday, Val finished her last race. She now stands proudly reunited with Paul, her greatest love, and Hour By Hour, her proudest ‘win’, in the Winner’s Circle surrounded by all that have gone before her, a proud testament to a life well lived. Val was preceded in death by her parents Hermie and Connie Miller, her husband Paul and brother-in-law Don. She is survived by, daughter Kim (Joe) Malewitz, son Bob (Liz) Irvine, daughter Deb (Ken) Ables, and son David Irvine and beloved sidekick Toby. Val will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Joey, Jourdan, and Lindsay Malewitz; Hayden and Peyton Irvine; Alex and Liam Ables, and Brody and Jackson Irvine. Val is also survived by brothers Herman (Connie) Miller and Robert (Roberta) Miller, sister Mary Brey, sister-in-law Janet Irvine, brother-in-law David (Katherine) Irvine and brother-in-law Andrew (Suzanne) Irvine. She will be dearly missed by the many nieces and nephews who treasured her.A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Alphonsus Church, 224 Carrier N.E., Grand Rapids, Saturday, October 5th at 11 am with Rev. Pat Grille CSsR presiding. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday 2-4 and 6-8 PM at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel, 3980 Cascade Road, Grand Rapids. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Casey West Michigan, 280 Ann Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 or Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding, 3777 Rector Ave NE, Rockford, MI 49341.
