Valentina Perez Valdez, our most blessed and beloved grandmother, mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend, returned to her God on Thursday, July 31, 2008 after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

She was born February 14, 1942 to Pedro and Frances Perez in Bay City, Texas. She graduated from Bay City High School in 1963 and later moved to Houston, Texas to work with Allied Distributing Company in accounts payable. She joined Jesse Valdez Sr. of Bay City, Texas in matrimony on November 11, 1967 and they have two children, Valerie Valdez Burnop and Jesse Valdez Jr., currently of Missouri City, Texas. She was a graduate of the University of Houston and received her Texas Educational credentials from Texas Southern University, earning her Bachelor of Science in 1987. She served as a bilingual and gifted and talented teacher in Houston ISD, Fort Bend ISD and Bay City ISD. She was selected as Bilingual Teacher of the Year for Wilson Elementary School, Central District in April of 1998. Also, she was recognized as a nominee for Bilingual Teacher of the Year from the Houston Area Association for Bilingual Education. She most recently had worked at Gordon Elementary School in Houston, Texas.

Her life was filled with passion, great faith, and love, a love she gave tirelessly, selflessly and without reservation to those she loved. A gift so great that it remains admired and treasured by her family, friends, and all her numerous schoolchildren.

She was a caretaker, teacher, inspiration, and guardian to her children and grandchildren, Viana Whitehead, Sloane Burnop, Vicente Burnop, and Victoria Valdez of Missouri City, Texas. She was an adventurer. She went on family vacations, student field trips, and great spiritual journeys. She was a breath of fresh air, endlessly giving support to her family and others, expressing and experiencing such joy in living for her grandchildren. She is loved by all and will be missed forever. Her dreams and aspirations will continue to be honored and fulfilled by her children and grandchildren, who will always remember and cherish her for what she shared with them - a passionate life filled with unrelenting, boundless love.

Holy Rosary will be recited at 7:00 PM Sunday at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, August 4, 2008, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with Rev. Gerry Cernoch officiating. Interment will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.taylorbros.net.

Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, 2313 Ave. I, Bay City, TX (979) 245-4613.