Brenda Van Valkenburg, 73

EAST LIVERPOOL – Brenda Van Valkenburg, of Kingsridge Court, passed away Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at the Calcutta Health Care Center at the age of 73.

Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, April 24, 1942, she was a daughter of the late Scott and Marion MacCann Gangloff.

She was a 1960 graduate of Milford High School, where she met the love of her life, William C. Van Valkenburg, whom she married on July 22, 1961. Together, they raised two daughters, mostly in southern California. Brenda was a loving and hands-on mother, sharing her love of crafting, quilting and cooking with her girls. After raising her own family, she became “mother” to many foreign exchange students, most of whom were from Japan.

Brenda will be remembered as a caring and generous person who taught her family from a young age to be tolerant and respectful of others, especially the elderly. She would go out of her way to do anything for those in need, and always with a smile upon her face.

At one time, she and Bill owned and operated Van’s Mower Shop in Vista, CA. Brenda also managed a JoAnn Fabric store in Escondido, CA, where she retired. In 2005, they relocated to East Liverpool. Bill preceded her in death on September 11, 2014.

She is survived by two daughters, Susan Wellington and her husband, James, of East Liverpool, and Linda Stracener of Bullhead City, Arizona. There are three grandchildren: Daniel Hissom, Brianne Myers and Emily Stracener, along with five great-grandchildren: Madison, Bonnie and Mason Myers, Nevaeh Potter, and Isaac Wellington. Brenda also leaves behind three step-grandchildren: James, Dylan and Alyssa Wellington.

Other survivors include a sister, Betsy White and her husband, Allen, of Milford, New Hampshire, and two brothers, Jon Gangloff and his wife, Nancy, of Texas and Jay Gangloff and his wife, Janet, of Florida, along with many nieces and nephews. She will be most sadly missed by her “red dogs”, Rusty and Clover.

Per Brenda’s wishes, she will be laid to rest at Greenlawn Cemetery in Mont Vernon, New Hampshire at a later date.

Funeral services were provided by the Dawson Funeral Home and have been completed.

Those wishing to do so may make contributions in Brenda’s memory to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44512.

View Brenda’s memorial webpage and express condolences online at www.dawsonfuneralhome.com.