Valerie J Mager

Valerie (Harle) Mager 79, a Sedona resident for 28 years and formerly of Crown Point, IN passed away on July 16, 2016 surrounded by her friends and family. Valerie is survived by her devoted husband James, loving daughter Karen (Patrick) Hearne of McKinney, TX, loving son Michael (Mary Church) Mager of Seattle, WA, cherished granddaughter Stacy (Michael Howlett) Raker of Chicago, IL, loving step-grandchildren: Joseph (Dawn) Raker and Tiffany (Jeremy) Irving and 3 step-great grandchildren, loving brother Donald (Linda) Harle of Munster, IN as well as numerous nieces and nephews and her beloved cousins.

Valerie was raised in the Hessville section of Hammond, IN and was a proud member of the Morton High School class of 1955 where she demonstrated her school spirit as a cheerleader. Valerie worked at Inland Steel where she met Jim and they were married in 1959. Val and Jim made their home and raised their family in Crown Point, IN where Val worked at Bank of Indiana for a number of years. After retirement, they relocated to Sedona where she found her true home town. Valerie was very active in St. John Vianney parish and loved her job at the Chapel of the Holy Cross Gift Shop. She looked forward to every day that she was at work in the gift shop and continued working until forced by her illness to stop.

Valerie was quite the genealogist and traced both her and Jims families back to Europe as well as visiting both Ireland and Germany to see the places where their ancestors came from. Valerie was the quintessential people person. She loved to make friends and once she made a friend, she kept that friend for life. She had regular contact with friends from her childhood in Hessville, from her years in Crown Point as well as her job at the bank and treasured each of those relationships. Valerie was always ready with a listening ear and a sympathetic hug " she wanted others to be happy. Above all else, Valerie loved people and was beloved by everyone who knew her. She was a kind and gentle lady with an inner core of strength.
The family would like to thank Sue, Maria and Cary at Circle of Life as well as the staff at Aviant Hospice for their loving care in Valeries last months. A special thanks to the St. John Vianney church family for faithfulness in ensuring that Valerie was well-loved in her final days.

Memorials may be given to Aviant Hospice Yavapai or the American Cancer Society in Valeries name.

Visitation will be on Thursday, July 21, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Greers Mortuary, 2725 W. Highway 89A, Sedona with rosary at 7:00. Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Sedona, Az with Fr. Daniel Connealy officiating. Services will conclude at the church with cremation to follow.

Private interment will be at Sedona Cemetery at a later date.