DE LA VALDENE, Valerie Elaine

Valerie Elaine de la Valdene "Shark Girl", March 5, 1966 to July 4, 2014. Valerie was born on March 5, 1966 to Guy Winston and Therese de la Valdene. Valerie is survived by her parents, her brother Johnny, sister-in-law Michelle and her nieces and nephews (JP-20, her god-daughter Brittany-17, Marc-15, Danielle-12, and Jacquelyn-12), Aunt Andreia Hersey and family, Aunt Denise Hanley and family, her loving Aunt Lorraine and family, Aunt Juliette, Aunt Inger and family. Valerie had a deep admiration for her god-parents, Jimmy and Janie Buffet. Valerie's life-long best friends were Alison Anderson and Diana Odasso. Valerie grew up in Palm Beach, FL and attended the Palm Beach Day School. Valerie attended college at Tulane University. Valerie and her ex-husband, Douglas Siefert, traveled the world together filming wonderful and dangerous sea-life from sharks to whales and her favorite, sea horses. Valerie was an accomplished underwater photographer and was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame in 2007. She was featured on shark week, CNN, and the Montel Williams show. Valerie also studied cooking under famous chef Mario Batali. Valerie's love for underwater photography, children and animals, led her to the Galapagos where she called home. Valerie started a cooking school for the children in the Galapagos and took in many dogs, her cat Mr. Deeks, her pet pig, and pet ferrets. Valerie loved helping others and had friends all over the world. Valerie will be buried in a private family ceremony in Havana, FL.

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Published by Chronicle & Transcript from Jul. 10 to Jul. 11, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Valerie DE LA VALDENE

Sponsored by Charles McClellan Funeral Home.

21 Entries

MARIELA GODOY

July 4, 2019

SHE WAS A PERSON FUNNY AND CHARITABLE, I REMEMBER YOU WITH LOVE, BLESSING

Kailey Boyce

April 29, 2015

Val...I miss you so much. It hasn't even been a year but God I miss you. I miss your crazy laugh and your beautiful smile. Mom and I talk about you every day. You and mom will always be more than . bestfriends..more like sisters. I'm proud to say I got to have such an amazing aunt to look up to. Keep holding my hand. Love Always, Kailey.

November 1, 2014

I just have learned of Val's passing , so sad for all of her grieving family and friends and also to know that my desire to reconnect will never be fulfilled,as it was my intention.Valerie is my first best friend, in first grade we met. She impressed me from the very beginning and it never stopped! We shared much together, exploring all kinds of ideas and philosophies as well as crazy endeavors. Our first oceanic endeavor was at Palm Beach around 1973 or4. We are both good swimmer pisces children at a young age with a raft , supervised by some distracted family members of mine at that time.Valerie and I had our" large watercraft" to blow up.We were on a mission. Tee hee hee! We are going out to sea. That thing took forever to inflate but we had a great idea in mind and it was worth every breath. Soon we had our boat. We both, with our giant grins launched and started kicking like a double engine water craft. We made good time while our guardians were lounging. We got so far out and we had no fear. We were so comfortable in the ocean that it seemed like it was our homeplace to explore. There was no thought of danger or fear, just joy. Then the guardians woke up to the fact that we were specs on the horizon. They brought us back with their screaming ,but it did not stop us from doing it again.There are more fun stories if anyone needs to hear contact me at [email protected]

Julianne Ziefle

October 6, 2014

I am so happy we got to be friends; dancing in the streets of Miami when America was playing at the DAN function during DEMA. You always had such a beautiful smile and were and still are a true inspiration. My deepest condolences to your other friends and family.

MARIELA GODOY

August 27, 2014

QUERIDA VALERY QUE TU ALMA MORE EN PAZ. UN GRAN ABRAZO. QUE DIOS LES CONCEDA MUCHA FORTALEZA A USTEDES SU FAMILIA. RECUERDA VALERY ALLAN LOS CHICOS Y YO TE EXTRAÑAREMOS POR SIEMPRE BESOS

August 6, 2014

Rest in God, Valerie.

Tim

July 17, 2014

Val, you shared your love of the oceans and all it's creatures with us and our passion grew from your enthusiasm. The sea will never be the same without you. Rest in peace.

Alexis Robinson Waller

July 17, 2014

Val and I were great friends growing up in PB. I have many fond memories of our times together, always laughing and having fun. I miss her and am very sad she is no longer with us, I hope she is in a better place. Love you Val xx

Valerie and Pedro

Pedro Valverde

July 16, 2014

I love you forever baby, Pedro.

Wendy Benson

July 15, 2014

My heart felt thoughts go out to Valerie's Family. Valerie was a very talented woman who always wanted to make a difference in the world. Be it in her philanthropic endeavors, or her underwater cinematography. She loved her friends and family more then words can express. May she be at peace. I will miss you my friend. One day we shall see each other again.

July 12, 2014

Rest in peace

EDUARDO VILLAGOMEZ

July 12, 2014

VALERIE WE WILL MIS U IS TERRIBLE WHATS HAPPENS IN YOUR HAPPY PLACE HOPE MEET WITH U ONE DAY AN HEAR YOU CRAZI HISTORIES GOOD BLEES YOU FOREVER A REAL FRIEND FROM THE GALAPAGOS BACALAO"S IN THE HOUSE

Matthew Biassi

July 12, 2014

A heartbreaking loss for a truly amazing family loved by everyone, My deepest condolences to all family and friends..... Matthew Biassi

July 11, 2014

The sea is still with you're absence Valerie... My roommate from a great journey around the world... The journey of this life will not be the same knowing you are not in it. Valerie was an extraordinary, vivacious... Full of life and adventure human being.. She had a zest for life and made our journey across the world an enormous adventure... I was captivated and riveted by my friend Valerie... Who had a way of making the ordinary... Extraordinary... As I said to our roommate Shana.. I was stopped in my tracks... As my amazing charismatic roommate ... Shared her life w me .. On the ship... This news is so saddening... As we had just reunited again... Valerie... I hope you are out exploring the heavens with same zeal and passion as you explored the seas... You will be surely missed ... You're loving friend... laura S.Foreman

Fire drill... semester at Sea

Laura foreman

July 11, 2014

Valerie Beaming

Laura foreman

July 11, 2014

dinner at The Peninsula Hong Kong .. Chris Foreman Laura Foreman Valerie De La Valdene Daria Tofano Kim Colffield And Shana Berry (top row)

Laura foreman

July 11, 2014

Carolyn Chauncey

July 11, 2014

I have the fondest memories of Valerie - from grade school through high school. She was a never ending ball of energy with a beautiful heart. She could make anyone laugh and being around her was always positive and fun. Rest in peace Valerie, you will be missed.

July 10, 2014

I am so so sorry to hear of Valerie's passing. She was a bright shining light of excitement and creativity to all who knew her. She & I were inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame together in 2007. I send heartfelt condolences to her family, Anne Doubilet.

On Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, drinking a fresh squeezed mango juice for breakfast.

July 10, 2014

The world just got dimmer without your bright light. Your passion for life, your adventurous spirit and your hysterical stories inspired me to be a better person. You were there for me during some of the hardest times in my life and some of the happiest. You brought my Mom flowers, You cried with me all night the night my dad got ill, you talked me through some of the heaviest storms in my life, you were brilliant, intuitive, you loved me and my children, you made me feel like the most important and most beautiful person in the world when I needed it the most, or even when I didn't. We shared many adventures together in San Francisco, New York and the Galapagos, and in the interim we talked for hours and hours on the phone throughout the years. We laughed, we cried, we solved the world's problems, and we protected each other. I want to thank you Valerie, you were a blessing in my life with unwavering friendship, you taught me how to look at life with a new set of eyes, you added so much color to my world, you contributed to the framework of my existence. It was an honor and privilege to call you my friend, my heart hurts without you in this world. We always ended our conversations with “ I love you more than___” The last words you said to me were “ I love you more than kittens” and I said back “I love you more than raindrops” Valerie Elaine De La Valdene, I love you more than anything imaginable, tangible or even possible. Rest in peace my dear friend; you will always be in my heart, your friend, Ciaran Flores.

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