Eulogy
Valrica Velores Hutchinson Bothe
March 18, 1953 - August 20, 2020
by Juval Bothe
Valrica was born in Kingston, Jamaica on March 18, 1953. She is the fourth child and first girl from the union of Elder Victor Hutchinson and Juanita Hutchinson. Her three older brothers joyfully welcomed her beautiful, exuberant, and eclectic persona.
At the age of three, Valrica and her siblings migrated with their parents to Costa Rica as their father engaged in Central American Union’s missionary work.
She enjoyed her earliest education in Costa Rica and later in Panama. As a precocious young child, Valrica was a quick learner, loved reading, and always excelled at her pursuits. Her childhood was full of adventure, travel, mastering Spanish, swimming, and engaging in Church life. On return to Jamaica, she continued to be very active in church and was baptized at the Spanish Town Seventh-day Adventist Church.
She enrolled in Spanish Town Primary School with her brothers David and Joseph. She successfully passed the Common Entrance Exam for St. Jago High School, where she excelled academically; her favorite subject was chemistry. She graduated high school having passed the required O-Level exams. As a skilled track and field athlete at St. Jago, she qualified for the 800-meters national championship event.
In 1970, she enrolled at West Indies College (now Northern Caribbean University) and earned an Associate degree in Science in 1972. Upon graduation she taught high school science classes for 1 year in Grand Cayman. She immigrated to the United States in 1973 and attended La Sierra College and Loma Linda University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Administration in 1977.
Valrica lived in California for many years where she met and fell in love with my father Hans-Jurgen Bothe. Their relationship blossomed. They moved to New York and married in 1984. From there they moved to Germany where I, Juval Victor Carl Bothe, was born in 1985. They traveled the world during their time in Europe.
Valrica continued to demonstrate her giftedness, passion for art, love for her family and commitment to her faith. Valrica experienced many years of health challenges which her faith and determination allowed her to overcome. In 2014, she was diagnosed with stage IV (stage 4) lung cancer, but my mom didn’t let that stop her. She persevered with medication and the love and support of her family and friends, always fighting to remain independent with a sense of normalcy throughout. She beamed with pride and distinct pleasure to be able to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day, October 20th, 2018.
My mother is a fighter and God gave her the strength to battle advanced lung cancer for over 5 years. She lost the battle but never lost faith in God, family or friends. The memories of her love, kindness, and laughter, as well as her colourful, eclectic and positive personality will be therapeutic memories for all of us. We couldn’t have a better sister, wife, mother, aunt, cousin and friend.
Throughout these years she remained selfless, loving and caring. So many of us will recall the perfectly-timed phone calls, cards, and gifts. She will be remembered for every birthday, anniversary, graduation and special event in our lives as we dearly miss her cards that will no longer be coming. My mom made sure we all knew how loved we were.
She leaves to mourn:
Her son: Juval (Andrea)
Her siblings: Merton (Barbara), David (Arlene), Joseph (Fay), Clifford (Rosalee), Juana (Raymond), and Charles
Nephews: Christopher (Jessica), Daniel
Nieces: Veonia, Marshé, Kimberley (Trevor), LeeAnna (James), Monique, Ashley (Kofi), Alexa, Abigail, and Arielle
Great Nephews & Nieces: Helaena, Marcus, Gaia, Jameson, Terra, Avery