Valerie Jean COOKE

COOKE, Valerie Jean: 1931 - 2021 Valerie Jean Cooke (nee Jones) passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sept. 9th, 2021 in Penticton. Born in Edmonton and raised in Vancouver, Val was the third of six children born to Luther (d. 1943) and Jean Jones (d. 2002). Val leaves behind a large and much-loved family, including her six children: Gail (John), Bonnie, Pat (Leslie), Valerie (Doug), Judy (Graeme), and Allison (Greg); her grandchildren: Megan (Julien), Mike, Chris (Lauren), Kim, Kohl and Kyla; her great grandchildren: Milo, Shelby and Leigton; her sister Marion as well as many nieces and nephews. Val's family meant everything to her. With her beloved husband Ken (d. 2009), they lived in homes first in Surrey and later in Penticton. Ken, Val, and the children loved to have family and friends over, whether for a dinner, a bbq, a card game, a party, a ping pong match, or simply a cup of coffee. The coffee pot was ALWAYS on, and everyone was welcome. Central to any gathering, large or small, was Val's baking. None of her kids will ever forget her ginger snap cookies, squares or cinnamon buns. Val was also known for her wonderful sense of humour, her easygoing disposition, her love of music, and her great pride in her children and grandchildren. When her teenaged grandson played in a local rock band, Val was his biggest fan. She proudly wore to all his shows a t-shirt emblazoned with the words "I'm with the band". Wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend, Val Cooke will be dearly missed and so fondly remembered. The Cooke family would like to express their thanks to the caring staff at Haven Hill where Val lived for almost two years.