Valerie Abid

ABID, Valerie Jean, born in 1948, passed away February 4, 2007. She was 58 years old and her birthday is Valentine' s Day. She was an honor student at Wyoming High School in Grand Rapids, Mich. Valerie worked her way through Grand Rapids Junior College to obtain an associate registered nursing degree. She was a charge registered nurse in pediatrics, where I met her and fell instantly in love with her. We built our first home in Holland, Mich., and lived on the beach. We moved to Flossmoor, Ill., where she owned a glorious bookstore, "Pages," which she recalled as the happiest moments of her professional life. A voracious reader, "A Prayer for Owen Meany" was her favorite. She went on to get a Bachelor of Arts degree at Purdue University and a Master of Arts degree at Valparaiso University. In those programs, she never received anything less than an A. We moved to Cape Cod, Mass., and made another host of marvelous friends. She traveled around the world to London, Paris, the Middle East and Japan. Paris was her favorite. She died at Tampa International Airport of a massive dissecting aortic aneurysm awaiting a plane to her new "Doll House" in Holland, Mich. Her most notable accomplishments and proudest achievements were her three adoring children, Chuck (38), Rebecca (34) and Nicholas Charles (22), and three and one half grandchildren. She loved her sisters, Kay and Dee. She was loved by everyone she touched. She was a husband' s dream. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 8, 2007, at the funeral home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park and Funeral Home Clearwater, Fla. (727)796-1992 www.SylvanAbbeyMPFH.com