VALERIE NITA STEWART TOMKIES Beloved Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, and Niece It is with great sadness and unfathomable loss that we convey to you a pivotal moment in time: a bright light in our family has ceased to shine here on Earth. Though her incandescence has now dimmed from our view, it is with faith, comfort, and joy that we believe she is now shining infinitely and eternally in the arms of her Lord. On Thursday, July 5th, Valerie Nita Stewart Tomkies, 85, departed our world and passed away peacefully surrounded by love and family. Her many and considerable health challenges were well known. Yet she overcame each with unfathomable courage, strength, and grace. Both a breast cancer and colon cancer survivor, finally it was leukemia that proved insurmountable. Born in Whitley Bay, England on December 7, 1932, Valerie began her nursing career in London before working as a nurse at Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital in Greenwich. In 1958, she travelled by ocean liner to Canada on the RMS Queen Elizabeth where she continued her nursing career in Montreal and then Toronto. In the 1980s, she reinvented herself as a Physical Rehabilitation Consultant. In the 1990s, she moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake and opened a successful Bed and Breakfast named "Birdsong Cottage". Daughter of Agnes Adele (Bunty) and Vincent Tomkies, and step-daughter of Bettie Tomkies. Adoring sister of Michael Tomkies, Maureen Meyers, and Richard Tomkies. Loving mother of Fiona and Ruaridh McIntyre.
Funeral to be held on Saturday, July 21st at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Mark's Anglican Church, with the Rev. William Roberts presiding at 41 Byron Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Reception to follow in the church's Rectory. Please join us to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, donations in Valerie's name to the St. Mark's Anglican Church or the Niagara Health Foundation - Walker Family Cancer Center would be welcomed.