Valerie Rose Friend, 44, Columbia City, passed away on July 1, 2021, at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne.

Valerie Friend

She was born in Fort Wayne, on July 16, 1976, to Robert and Marsha (Wafer) Elward. She spent her formative years in Allen County, graduating from Carroll High School in 1995.

Valerie was married to Cory Friend at Immaculate Conception Church, on Aug. 18, 2001, and together they raised a son and a daughter.

Throughout her life, she had several jobs, which included working at USSI, Churubusco Child Care Center and as a teacher’s aide at Coesse Elementary School most recently.

Valerie was a dedicated, supportive and loving wife, mother, sister and friend. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends as well as with her two Labrador retrievers, Emmie and Finn. She also liked to read and visit beaches, especially Myrtle Beach, S.C.,, and Cancun, Mexico.

Valerie will be missed but never forgotten by her many loved ones. She courageously battled two bouts of breast cancer, remaining strong and loving throughout her illnesses.

Valerie is survived by her husband of 19 years, Cory Friend; her father, Robert (Joyce Anderson) Elward; her son, Logan Friend; her daughter; Ava Friend; two sisters, Kimberly Petty and Shannon (Daniel Kercher) Elward; her father-in-law, Thomas (Sonya) Friend; her mother-in-law, Karen (Tony) Barry; her sister-in-law, Christi (Scott) Elsten; two nieces, Mackenzie Petty and Addison Elsten; and two nephews, Kaiden Petty and Ryan Elsten.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Marsha Elward; and her grandparents.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Immaculate Conception Church, Ege, on Tuesday, July 6, at 11 a.m., with calling at the funeral home from 10-10:30 a.m.

The family will also receive friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home, Churubusco Chapel, on Monday, July 5, from 2-7 p.m. Burial will take place at Ege Catholic Cemetery, Ege.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana. Leave a personal note to the family via the online guestbook at www.sheetsandchilds.com.