December 21, 1930 - July 27, 2016
Jessie passed away peacefully at home with family members present on July 27, 2016.
She was born into the frigid wheat farm countryside of Manitoba, Canada, to bring joy to her parents and several siblings already forming into a tight-knit loving family. The farmhouse where she started life had been hand-built by her Polish father, which was devoid of the luxuries we have today including no inside running water. Her formative years were spent doing the necessary chores around the farm until she started grade school at which time it became all too routine: arise early in the morning, get started with the chores, and milk the cows and then bring enough water into the house to clean up as best she could, then eat breakfast and walk to school. After school, walk back home to be greeted again by the chores and cows. As she matured, the occasional barn dances offered merriment for all. After high school, Jessie wanted to become a nurse and serve in the Northwest Territories. She soon was able to hone her already established strong work ethics when she was accepted into a three-year live-in nursing program at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg. In a sense, this course was akin to serving in the military. Students were required to live in a dormitory of the hospital and were on duty at the discretion of the nuns. They could go out on a pass once a month but a strict curfew was imposed. Failure to abide by these rules could result in termination. The good part of all this though was that the student was paid $10.00 a month.
After graduation, she forgot about the Northwest Territories and thought a warmer climate would be better. She entered the states and was hired by Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles. This is where she met her Eternal Companion and father of her three children, Bill Valentine.
Jessie and Bill were married on May 2, 1961 in Las Vegas an after giving birth to three children the family moved to Carson City area in February, 1974, where Jessie began work at Carson Tahoe Hospital. This became a 30 year career where she treated everyone with compassion and her legendary smile. And where countless long-lasting friendships of both staff and patients continue to this day.
Jessie is survived by her husband of 55 years, Bill, two sons, William R, and Patrick F. and a daughter, Joyce Miller.
A brief memorial will be held at the C-Hill LDS Church at 1331 McKay Drive on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 2:00pm. All are invited.
