Valerie Jean Benoit

On Sunday, January 19, 2025, we said goodbye to our beloved mom, grandmother and great-grandmother, Valerie Jean Benoit.

She was in her 90th year and would have celebrated her 90th birthday on April 17. She was

predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Yvan, in 2012, her son Robbie in 2007, and her great-grandson Edgar in 2022.

She moved to Canada from England at 16 and met Yvan and married him when she was 19.

They spent the early years of their life together in Quebec before moving to the Yukon in 1973,

where they would spend the remainder of their lives in Faro, Ross River, and Whitehorse.

In the 1980’s, during her mid-40s, she worked at the Anvil Mine in Faro, a time she fondly

remembered and often told stories about, usually over a cup of tea. She was very involved in her

community, serving on the Faro Town Council, working as a Justice of the Peace, and as a

school secretary in Ross River.

After retiring, she became very involved in the Seniors Games, traveling across the country to

compete. In 2014, she suffered a stroke – debilitating for only a moment. When asked by her

physiotherapist in Vancouver what she hoped to achieve, she responded with determination,

“Well, I’m going to the Seniors Games in PEI in August, so let’s get to work.”

She gifted her family with her humour and quick wit, leaving them with lasting memories. Her

bright spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Valerie was the last of her siblings and is survived by many nieces, nephews, and two sisters-in-law.

She leaves behind her children: Richard, Jennifer (Danny), Philip (Dana), David (Larin),

Karen (Bryan), and Stephanie (Blair); her grandchildren: Valerie, Hilary, Koko, Monique, Linda,

Lee, Roxane, Cooper, Tyson, and Ashton; and great-grandchildren: Sarah, Michael, August,

Aidan, Errol, Hendrick, Nari, Athena, and Remi.

A special thank you to Rev. Elsa Cheeseman, as well as the doctors, nurses and staff who were

so kind. And Dr. Sally Macdonald for her compassion and kindness to our mom and family.

There will be a service held in the spring.