Valerie Ann Farrell

Valerie Ann Elizabeth Belanger Farrell was born on December 17, 1954 in Tamuning, Guam. Her father, Zenon J. Belanger Jr., from Minnesota, was stationed in Guam where he met local Chamorro gal Maria Cruz. Valerie inherited her wonderful smile, loving attitude, and bubbly enthusiasm for life (and food) from her mother Maria, a truly wonderful lady. Valeries incredible faith in the Catholic church came from her father and she constantly talked of angels and heaven. Her dad had a religious bookstore in the home and nearly the entire island participated in his early passing at age 74. They both engaged in nonstop conversation (some call it chatter) with all they came in contact with and yes, that does include all pets and animals. Valeries worlds worst back seat driver status was second only to her father. Every room in Rich and Vals home has pictures and memorials of both their parents that she loved so much.

Valerie is the middle child of five. Her older brother, Zenon Belanger, lives in Guam and is now married to Debra and they have three boys, Zachary, Zenny and Zoilo. Two of the boys are going to school in Houston but they all permanently reside in Guam. Zenon also has a daughter Tamara that resides in New Mexico. Vals sister, Jeanne, donated her kidney to Valerie in 1983, was married to Tony Pangelinan. They have two children, Joaquin and Jeanna, that both reside in Guam. Jeanne passed away due to multiple, decade long, renal related complications on May 25, 2020, followed by husband Tonys death only a few months later. Valerie got back to Guam last year to pay tribute to their memorials she had missed due to Covid. Her younger brother Christopher Belanger, and his daughter Crysti Jewel, reside in Boise, Idaho. Mary, Vals younger sister is married to John Snodgrass, they reside with their son Matthew in Bellevue, Washington.

Valerie graduated from the Academy of our Lady of Guam, Class of 1972 and she was busy making plans on attending their Golden Anniversary later this year. Then Val met Rich, both freshmen at Seattle University in 1972. Rich studied "Golf and Val" while Valerie got her degree in Education. They graduated in 76 and were eventually married and settled in Spokane in 1978. Rich worked at the Hayden Lake Country Club for five seasons. In 1983, Rich was hired as Golf Professional at the Ellensburg Golf Club. That year Val developed renal failure followed by home dialysis and the eventual transplant shortly afterwards. Many great years followed and Valerie began her 28-year career in the Reception Office at Central Washington University. In 1992, they moved to a beautiful countryside community 14 miles west of Ellensburg (Sunlight Waters) and enjoyed the most heavenly winters imaginable. Cross country skiing, deep snow, wood fires, a sauna, a hot tub, and all those wonderful animals were all there to be enjoyed. In 2005, Rich ended his 22 seasons in Ellensburg and headed to the Mt. Adams Country Club in Toppenish about 50 miles south of Ellensburg. They rented the Sunlight Waters home and Valerie commuted daily from Toppenish to Ellensburg for several years. In 2013, the Taylor Bridge fire demolished the rental and a perfectly timed, recently revised insurance policy allowed them to purchase their 2nd home back in Ellensburg. Valeries commute instantly went from 60 to 3 minutes. Life was good and for three years they enjoyed the perfect distance for a married couple of 35 yearsabout 60 miles! Rich retired to care for Valerie when she received her 2nd heart valve surgery on December 31, 2017. Since then, despite Richs unbridled insanity, covid and travel restrictions, Valerie seemed to be genuinely happy enjoying her many friends, her computer, and animals until last Sunday, March 6. Valerie did not survive a brutal 8-hour surgery and passed on Tuesday morning, March 8, 2022.

Viewing is scheduled for Friday, March 18, 2022 from 10:00am-4:00pm at Brookside Funeral Home (500 E. Mountain View Ave, Ellensburg, WA 98926) and again on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 9:00am at St. Andrews Catholic Church (401 S. Willow St, Ellensburg, WA 98926). Mass of Christian Burial will also be held on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at St. Andrews at 11:00am. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family.

The service will be live streamed at [emailprotected]

Visitation
Brookside Funeral Home and Crematory (Ellensburg)
Friday, March 18, 2022
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
PO Box 577
Ellensburg, Washington 98926

Recitation of the Rosary
St. Andrews Catholic Church
Saturday, March 19, 2022
10:00 AM
401 South Willow St.
Ellensburg, Washungton 98926

Mass of Christian Burial
St. Andrews Catholic Church
Saturday, March 19, 2022
11:00 AM
401 South Willow St.
Ellensburg, Washungton 98926