Nurse practitioner · Phoenix · Nona
A career spent with the smallest patients in the hardest rooms. Retired from the hospital. Not from the work.
The work
Valerie practiced as a nurse practitioner for a career, in the high‑risk pediatric settings where families meet the people they will remember for the rest of their lives. She was steady in those rooms. She still is.
She is retired from clinical practice now. Ask anyone who knew her at work and they will tell you she never stopped being a nurse.
The people
Deeply connected, quietly generous. Her name comes up before you finish asking.
She gives time, attention, and rides. Mostly she gives without mentioning it.
Three generations, all in her orbit, all looked after by the same person.
At the door, in the car, at the practice, on the ordinary Tuesday. Present, every time.
Nona
Her daughter Leeann and son‑in‑law Matthew run Dearing Acting Studio. Their five children each own their own name online. Valerie is a large part of how those five get where they are going, most days of the week.