Valeria R. Vande Hey

Valeria R. Vande Hey (Van Domelen), age 82, passed away unexpectedly after a short illness
at her home on February 25th 2023 with her loving husband Vincent by her side. She joined her
deceased parents, John and Matilda (Fischer) Van Domelen, her mother and father-in-law, Ruth
(Nelessen) and Leonard Vande Hey, her sister, Sanja Anderson, sister-in-law, Diane
(Desmond) Vande Hey, brother-in-law, Van Robinson and daughter, Heidi Vande Hey.
She leaves behind her husband and best friend, Vincent Vande Hey, her adoring
children, Nathan Vande Hey and his wife Jennifer of Oklahoma, Joshua Vande Hey and
his wife Eugenie of the United Kingdom, and Camille Gerbyshak and her husband
Stephen of Hawai’i. She also leaves behind her beautiful sisters, Natalie Robinson, Rosi
Jacob, and Christine (Dan) Vander Zanden.

Val is survived by eight grandchildren, Victoria Wasmund, Joseph Brantley,
Jasmine Vande Hey, Aaron Vande Hey, Asrat, Bereket and Esubalew Vande Hey and
LesleeAnne (Pierre) Collins, seven great grandchildren, Jackson, Hayden and Jada,

Easton, Owen, Stella and Everest and great-great grandchild, Creed.
And she leaves her Vande Hey sisters and brothers-in-law: Margie (Leo) Vosters,
Phyllis (Dave) Wereley, her lifelong dear friend, Mary (Jim) Beschta, Bob (Jean), Gerald
(Carol), Don (Mary Lou), and Roy (Deb) Vande Hey, Victoria (Dave) Gossens, Terry
(Rob) Van Zeeland and Rebecca (Hector) Esparza, and Anderson brother-in-law Doug, plus
numerous nieces and nephews.

Born on July 12th, 1940, Val grew up in Little Chute, Wisconsin, where she met
Vince and married on April 30th, 1960, after graduating from the Milwaukee School of
Cosmetology as a hairdresser. Hair designs, individualized for proms, dances, and
weddings were her specialty, family and friends all benefiting from her creative efforts. In years
after graduating from cosmetology school, she attended the Menasha Extension and took
courses in Native American Studies and later attended school at the University of Wisconsin-
Green Bay. After acting as foster parents and having two of their four children, Val and Vince
bought a farm in Krakow, Wisconsin. Val and Vince were excited to grow their family and had
their two youngest children once living on the farm. Val and Vince felt truly at home and lovingly
nurtured the land and their family.

Val and Vince’s farm was always welcoming, warmed by the harvesting, canning
and freezing of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the delicious aroma of Val’s baking and
cooking. The family gatherings and meals that followed were often extended to
neighbors and friends with conversation and laughter.

Val was also an eclectic music lover who listened to Friday Night Jazz on public
radio while playing cards with her children, but also loved classical and soul music. She
lent her lovely voice to folk duets, church choirs, and many weddings and special events
at the request of family and community members, and could often be heard singing sweet
melodies around her home. She also was involved in theater at the
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, while attending school at the Menasha Extension she
performed in H.M.S. Pinafore, directed the children’s theater in Gillette and once
performed on stage with her children, Josh and Camille, at the Mielke Theater in
Shawano. She took pleasure in reading both privately and aloud to her children and
husband. In addition, she is still remembered for voluntarily reading to classes at
Fairview Elementary School.

Heavily invested in her community, Val worked part time at the Krakow post
office and served as a poll worker in local elections. More significantly, she was
passionately concerned with quality education, the first woman to be elected to the
Pulaski School Board, proud to be handing high school diplomas to three of her children
before retiring from her position. One of the projects Val worked on during her many years on
the school board was tirelessly researching, visiting other districts, and laying out a framework
for a Pulaski Middle School concept to convince the electorate of the advantages. Val was very
proud of the work she did regarding this and of her broader contributions to the Pulaski School
District and its growth.

Val loved the birds and her beautiful flower gardens, both graciously tended by
Vince. She was anticipating spring when she could sit on her front porch and visit her
memorial garden and pond. There she relished the sightings of turtles and the sounds of
frogs and wind chimes which still sing in her absence.

She was intelligent and well spoken, always enjoying conversations about
multiple topics and current events. She was welcoming and comfortable as a host, had a
strong sense of values, yet was always appreciative and accepting of the individual
beliefs of others.

The matriarch of her family, Valeria was kind, filled with positive energy, an
amazing woman, loving wife, nurturing mother and grandmother and generous friend.
She has left a positive impression and influence on both her family and community. All
will miss her conversations and presence, but her spirit and memories live on.
Her Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 9th, 2023, from 12:00 – 4
pm, at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens, 2600 Larson Road, Green Bay, Wisconsin, in
the Cornerstone Foundation Hall. There, among the flowers, butterflies and bees she
loved so dearly, we will share memories and stories at 2:00 pm with all guests invited to
tour the gardens free of charge. Instead of flowers or monetary gifts, contributions in her name
may be made to Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity
https://www.greenbayhabitat.org/support.html, Wolf River Habitat for Humanity
https://www.wrhabitat.org, or your local Habitat for Habitat for Humanity, these would be greatly
appreciated.