Celebrating life of Valeria Michailovna
Please join us in celebration of the life of Valeria Michailovna - mother, grandmother, teacher, creator and a curious soul. Her maiden name was Valeria Sokolova.
Her journey begins on 1-st of September 1932 born in city of Tomsk in Siberia, third child of four siblings - tow sisters and two brothers.
She grew a happy and inquisitive child, she developed love for music, learned to play piano, encouraged by her parents. There were always music, songs and laughter in her family, despite modest teachers salaries that her mum and dad brought home.
When Valeria turned 9 year old her whole world upended as the Second World War broke out in 1941.
The family endured immense hardship, surviving on small food rations and reduced teachers salaries of the parents. Yet she preserved curiosity in arts and continued her life path.
Inspired by her parent’s example Valeria enrolled in university to become a history teacher.
She went on to complete the university degree and started to teach history in a local school.
Around this time Valeria met her man - Alexander, they got married and soon after Michael, her first son was born in 1960.
The second son Dmitri - was born in 1969.
Both of us knew only love and kindness during our carless and happy childhoods, despite challenges and life tribulations, Valeria knew how to whip her boys into the discipline, but always with love and kindness.
My memories of the childhood are happy ones, big credit to her relentless efforts to give me the best she and my father could.
Children invited Valeria to move over in 2008, so that we can look after her in her dawn years.
Valeria found many good friends in New Zealand and maintained a great circle of friendships, always active socially, always on the move, cheerful and lifeloving .
Lately her health began to deteriorate. She found peace on 15-Feb-2024 at 8:50 am, passing peacefully and according to the nurses painlessly.
She believed in God, was loved and cherished by her friends, children, grandchildren and extended family.
Now she’s with creator, may her soul be in peace.
