Valeria Jean "Valle" Kayhoe

1928 - 2025

Valeria "Valle" Jean Kayhoe (née, Haffner) of Kensington, MD, passed peacefully on September 6, 2025, at home with her family in "Valle's Villa." Valle was born on August 31, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her family later relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan where she grew up with her siblings (and dear friends) Richard, Lawrence, and Anna Mae.

She embarked on a grand adventure when she moved to Washington, D.C. with some of her best female friends. While serving as an X-ray tech, she met and married her husband of 56 years, Dr. Donald Kayhoe, with whom she raised five children (Donald, Frederick, Michelle, Douglas, and Christopher). From the time she was a little girl - Valle wanted to fly planes like Amelia Earhart - and secretly saved up for flying lessons with her best childhood friend, Judi. While she did not become a pilot, she made up for it by traveling with her family and friends given her husband's military service and their shared love of history and global adventuring.

In her later years, Valle doted on her grandchildren (Allison, Kristen, Matthew, Valle Nicole, Adam, and Chelsea) and great-grandchildren, who gave her immense joy. She will be remembered by family, friends, and neighbors for her deep faith, devotion to family, and love of anything chocolate! The family is deeply grateful to the compassionate caregivers who supported Valle as her health declined in later years. All those who miss her will find her in each bite of chocolate fudge, every time they wear purple, and most of all whenever the dolphins dance on the horizon where the sea meets the sky. An angel on earth to all who knew her - Valle finally has her wings.

A memorial mass will be celebrated with family and friends in October. Optional donations may be made in her honor to Compass Regional Hospice (160 Coursevall Dr. Centreville, MD 21617).