Valeria Vlazinskaya Mjolsness

Valeria Vlazinskaya Mjolsness, age 95, passed away peacefully the evening of January 25, 2018 after a long, full life. She was born to Vera and Igor Vlazinsky on July 14, 1922, in Harbin, northern China. Valeria moved with her parents to Mukden, China in 1939 when Valerie was 17. The family weathered WW2 and Japanese occupation of China, enduring tough conditions and meager supplies. In due course, the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation (UNRRA) office opened, bringing post-war assistance and medical personnel (and a husband-to-be) to western China. In June, 1947, Valeria, who was working as a secretary in the UNRRA office, met Norwegian/Canadian Verdine Mjolsness, who had been a conscientious objector working in China during the war, and who was now working for UNRRA as a Superintendent of Agricultural Machinery. Love did not take long to bloom. Verdine and Valerie were engaged just four months later, and married in Shanghai on February 8, 1948. A year later, Valeria and her parents moved with Verdine to Vancouver, Canada. Valeria grew up singing with her parents at home, and was encouraged by teachers at school. In her teens, she took her first private singing lessons. In Vancouver, she studied voice with an influential teacher and launched her professional career in music. Over the course of eight years in Vancouver and 38 years in Los Angeles, Valeria built a reputation as a song recitalist, voice coach, translator, and recording artist. A specialist in Russian repertoire, Valeria appeared in numerous solo recitals, instrumental ensembles and radio broadcasts. In addition to being an accomplished artist, Valeria wrote many translations of songs, arias and operas, and classical album liner annotation for Capital Records. In 1996, Valeria and Verdine moved to Bellingham, WA to be closer to extended family, including their niece Lisa and her husband Dave. Verdine and Valeria loved taking walks along the water, thrift store shopping, and hosting delicious meals with family and friends. They were loving people, always caring for others, and relentlessly promoting world peace. After Verdine's death in 2004 at the age of 91, Valeria deepened her ties with St. Innocent Antiochian Orthodox Church in Everson, WA. Her beloved church family has taken wonderful care of Valeria over the last decade, as has her devoted neighbor and friend, Sherry. Valeria will be remembered for her twinkling eyes, her snappy sense of humor, and beautiful voice. Rest in peace, Valeria. Services for Valeria will be held at St. Innocent Antiochian Orthodox Church, 7461 Goodwin Rd. Everson, WA 98247 with visitation and reading of the Psalms beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 1/30/18. The funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 1/31/18. Following a car procession to the nearby Nooksack Cemetery for burial, there will be a fellowship meal and sharing remembrances at the church. You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.