Albertina Duenweg Valencia

Albertina Duenweg Valencia, 99, passed away peacefully in her sleep in Whitefish on Sept. 23 from natural causes.

She was born June 5, 1914, to Herman and Maria Isabel Duenweg and was preceded in death by them and her brother Herman and her sister Isabel. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband Sam Valencia, who she married on May 10, 1941 and was married until his death on April 1, 1987.

Albertina had a wonderful mind and a keen sense of humor which she kept to the end. Her faith in God was the center of her life. She was always grateful for the care she was getting from all around her and remained gracious even during the most trying times.

Albertina qualified as a teacher at a young age at her father’s insistence. But her true passion was nursing so she went back to school and became an RN. She worked as a nurse for many years and then became a pediatric nursing instructor at the Boston Floating Hospital.

Sam and Albertina loved to travel and it took them all over the world. She spoke five languages and was interested in world events, history, music and art.

She is survived by her two children, Juanita Valencia and Sam Halpern; grandson, Michael Halpern; and daughter-in-law, Maryanne Melvin. Granddaughters, Jesica Olguin Valencia and her husband, George James Pehlert and their children, Isabella June Pehlert and Joaquin Fernando Pehlert; Angelica Olguin Valencia and her husband Alejandro Mariani and their children, Lucas Mariani Olguin and Emma Mariani Olguin; Erika Olguin Valencia and her daughter, Pia Castro Olguin; and her cherished nieces and nephews and their families in Mexico.

She will be greatly missed!

Viewing will be from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, and will be followed by a Rosary at 5:30 p.m. at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish.

The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, Oct. 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the Austin Funeral Home.