General Information
Full Name: Hella Valk
Date of Death: Monday, May 18, 2020
HELLA HEIMANN VALK, 1929-2020
Hella Valk passed away peacefully at Sunrise Assisted Living in Paramus, New Jersey on May 18, 2020, as a result of complications from Covid-19. She was 91 years old.
Hella was the loving wife of the late Werner Valk. They were married for 64 years. Hella was born on March 10, 1929 in Gau-Algesheim, Germany. She was the daughter of the late Melanie and Alfred Heimann and sister of the late Renate Srugis.
In 1940, Hella and her family fled Germany and immigrated to America, where they settled in the Astoria section of New York City. Hella and Werner met in Astoria, married and lived in Dayton, Ohio, before moving to what would become their home on Jordan Road in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, where they would raise three sons and live for 60 years.
Hella attended the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in NYC and later, Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ. She worked as a supervisor at the NJ State Employment Services Division in Paterson while raising her three young boys. She was a member of Temple Beth Shalom in Fair Lawn.
Hella (and Werner) had immense compassion for the less fortunate and the struggles of humans and animals alike. They contributed to numerous humanitarian and animal charities throughout their lives and did volunteer work for Barnert Memorial Hospital throughout much of their retirement years.
Hella will be best remembered as a wonderful wife, amazing mother, loving Oma to her grandchildren, and dedicated friend. She was the matriarch of her family, celebrating holidays and upholding traditions. She was a fine baker and cook, and an accomplished seamstress, knitter and gardener, with a keen intellect and a love of classical music and opera. Her often unintended hilarious comments are family classics that will live forever.
Hella is survived by her three sons and their families: Stephen (Charlene) of Rhode Island, Jon of New York City, Daniel (Aracely) of California, Kristine Iverson and Laraine Perri and nephew Aaron Srugis (Shawn and Olivia), as well as Laura Staffin and Ray Srugis. She also leaves her beloved grandchildren Nicole, Melissa, Samuel, Timothy, Celine and Christian.
Hella’s family would like to thank all of her caregivers at Sunrise Assisted Living and Ascend Hospice for their exceptional care and family support.
We love you, Mom.
Service Information
Thursday, May 21, 2022 Private Service
Service at:
Cedar Park Cemetery
735 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ
0 Comments