Jeri Gribble

Thank you to Jeri’s daughter, Karen Todd, for this loving tribute.

Jeri Lee Valenta was born March 5, 1947. She grew up in Long Beach and attended both Wilson and Poly High Schools, graduating in 1966.After graduation she attended nursing school, and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Her early marriage to James Welch brought two daughters, Kathleen and Karen and ended in the late 60s. In 1970, she met William Gribble, a construction guy working on a job next to her apartment. They married and moved to Cypress. Bill died in the late 1990s.

- Jeri worked as an LVN at Long Beach Memorial for about 7 years. While raising her girls, she was not employed outside the home for a long while, but stayed busy caring for various family members. She definitely had a degree in “ Advanced TLC.” She had a very successful 17-year career at Lucky Market as Service Deli Manager. In the year 2000, a tragic accident (a box of frozen chicken fell on her) ended her working days. A surgery to fuse 16 vertebrae and remove ribs left severe nerve damage, and put her permanently in a wheelchair.

Despite her extensive medical issues, she adapted to her physical limitations with patience, courage, grace. She was known for her wicked sense of humor and talent for practical jokes. She would spend a whole day putting together a prank that might take a few minutes to take place.. Her greatest passion, other than her family, was cooking, and she continued to want to feed the world. OVERFEED the world. Giant helpings of fabulous food were routine in her home. Her home never won the Weight Watchers seal of approval. For a time, she had full-time caregivers, but in later years lived alone with just part-time help coming and going as needed.

She adored horse racing at Los Alamitos, and in later years spent a lot of time (and more than a little money) at the Temecula casinos, which she would visit with her daughter Karen, or her sister Rosemary. She also loved movies on TV – current, as well as old classics. She would watch a favorite movie many times; her favorite was “Taken.” Her catch-phrase “Hello, Darlin” was her usual term of endearment that applied to anyone who came around. She liked playing on the computer, but like so many in her age-range, was constantly frustrated with the ever-changing technology. Her cousin Brian had just bought her a new computer right before her final illness

In early February, she suffered from severe back pain for almost a week before agreeing to go to the ER on Monday, 2/10. She was seen, diagnosed with a UTI, and sent home that evening. Within 24 hours it got worse, and she landed in the ICU. By Valentines Day she was better, gratefully received a box of chocolates, put on her makeup and planned to go home. A nightmare of complications followed, with various infections, sepsis, shingles. Ultimately, her kidneys failed, and she passed away at Hoag Hospital on Friday, February 21, surrounded by 10 family members.

Jeri is survived by her daughters, 6 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, a brother, sister, and many other family members. Her cousin, Brian Gooch, was like a brother to her and they spoke almost daily on the phone for many, many years. Brian adds: “My dear Cuz Jeri Lee and I were more like brother and sister, we got closer every year of our lives. I will never forget her love for cooking and feeding ANYONE. She shared her passion for cooking by passing her food to whoever needed it. Her sense of humor was wonderful, if I ever had a down day she would bring me up. Everyday she would ask, "what did you have for dinner last night". I love my sister, she will be in my heart forever.”

Asked to describe her mother in one word or sentence, Karen quickly said “She was a character.” At the memorial service – in order to end on a fun note—a video clip was shown of her in recent days, riding in a car and horsing around with a puppet, and speaking in a sassy way to the videographer.. Those in attendance were able to laugh through their tears as they left the chapel. And so….. GOODBYE, DARLIN.

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