Obituary of Helen Valerie Grenier (nee Davis)

Helen Valerie Grenier (nee Davis) July 8, 1939 – July 8, 2016 Our beloved mother Val gently passed away the evening of July 8, 2016, after a day of birthday celebrations, warm wishes, and loving thoughts. Mom was 77-years old, although her last 27 birthdays occurred at age 50. Mom was born July 8, 1939 in Calgary, Alberta, the second daughter of Clarence and Edith Davis (nee Jenkinson). The Davis family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba where Val grew up with sisters Marilyn and Bonnie. A youthful Val Davis enjoyed visits with extended family in Lethbridge and Pincher Creek, summers at the Calgary Stampede, figure skating in the winter, and her high school years at St. James Collegiate, where she was the recipient of the Governor General’s Medal. Mom married our father and dedicated her life to the care and nurturing of the three of us, Michael, Guy and Glenn. We in turn loved her dearly: in our youth, she was our cheerleader, champion, and North Star, and throughout our lives, our sounding board and mentor. We would not be the men we were and are without her love, vision, and guidance. Val’s family resided in Bolton, Caledon, and Toronto, Ontario with many happy summers spent at Stephen’s Bay on Lake Muskoka. In time, Val’s loving family expanded to include daughters-in-law, Doreen, Jennifer, and Cathy. “Auntie Val” loved hearing from her nieces Valerie and Vanessa. As “Nana-Val” to her grandchildren: Rebecca & Allison, Mitchell & Kenny, and Adam & Brady, she was a constant source of love and adoration. Mom was a founding member and President of the Orangeville Sweet Adelines chorus, and later sang with Toronto’s North Metro Chapter. Val studied fine art at the University of Toronto, and on several occasions travelled with classmates to Europe to pursue this passion. Val particularly enjoyed her painting excursions at the cottage with her artist friends. Val traveled throughout Western Canada, and to curling and golf events with her sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Jerry Best. Mom took her mother and “Auntie Vi” to their birthplace in the British Isles, fulfilling their life-long desire to reconnect with the Jenkinson family in Scotland, and to attend the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. More recently Val moved to London, Ontario to be closer to her always-attentive son Guy and daughter-in-law Jennie. Mom was passionate about current events and Canadian politics. She also enjoyed televised sporting events, conversing for hours on the telephone with her dear sister Mano, in Winnipeg, as they were broadcast. Our family is particularly grateful to Val’s wide circle of friends who kept in touch through visits, Internet, and telephone, and her many medical and homecare attendants over the past few years. At Mom’s request, a service will not be held, but messages of remembrance can be posted to the Remembering Valerie Grenier Facebook page. FYI, you don’t need to be a member of Facebook to post a memory. Memorial donations can be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, or the charity of your choice.