Lynnwood, WA
Rhonda E. Valiquette, age 61, of Lynnwood WA, passed away December 16, 2014 after a brief illness.
Rhonda was born September 2, 1953 in Escanaba, MI. She is the daughter of Dwain and Lorraine (Oja) Valiquette. She was raised in the Gladstone/Days River area. Rhonda graduated from Gladstone High School in 1971. She was also a graduate of Bay de Noc College, where she earned her nursing degree, and of the Northgate Community College in Seattle where she received an accounting degree. Rhonda started her nursing career at Newberry State Hospital in Newberry, MI. After moving to Seattle, WA in 1981, she continued to work as a nurse at Seattle Children’s Home. Also during her time in Seattle, she worked at Cory Coffee, a division of the Hersey Corporation. She later retired from working as a private duty nurse for many years.
Rhonda loved to be with her family. She gave of her heart to family and friends and to charity. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, reading and following the Seahawks and the Packers. She treasured all the little wonders of the world. Her gentle kindness and unconditional love will be sadly missed by all those she touched.
Survivors include her son, Matthew Valiquette. Her life partner, Maurice Lalonde and stepmother, Patricia Valiquette.
Her four brothers: Jeffery, Dana, Michael and Gregory Valiquette.
Her three sisters: Julie (John) Gudwer, Marijo Shonubi, Luann (John) Schneider.
Nephews, Kyle and Adam Valiquette, Kade and Jace Botsford. Niece Paige Valiquette and a great nephew Parker Valiquette. Numerous aunts, uncles and cousins also survive.
Rhonda was preceded in death by her parents and several dear aunts and uncles.
Rhonda’s family is planning a memorial service to celebrate her life in the Seattle area. Her family will also have burial services at the Fernwood Cemetery in Gladstone, MI., for Rhonda, in the Spring/Summer 2015. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the Valiquette family.
Cheryl Bernard
To Dana & all of Rhonda’s Family,
I send you my sincere condolences for your loss of Rhonda. I remember her with great fondness while growing up on the bluff & riding the school bus together. She was as kind as she was beautiful! May she rest in peace & your hearts be comforted.
Sincerely,
Cheryl (Kalishek) Bernard
John McDonald - Seattle, WA
I enjoyed visiting with you as a friend of Dana and the family at many of the Holiday gatherings Rhonda. I will cherish the knitted scarf always. You are going to be missed very much.
Marijo
She was love. She was kind. She was compassion. She was empathy. She was art. She was intelligent. She was loved by all who met her. She was my sister Rhonda.
My Big Sis was my ‘goto girl’. I trusted her with my sensitivity, my philosophical self, my weaknesses, my tears, my joys, my triumphs, my fails. She was my who you tell first sister…and now I find my world smaller, quieter. She is loved and missed by me.