Trinidad Peralta Valera

Trinidad Peralta Valera was a woman for whom actions would speak louder than words. Her life motto might well have been “if it isn’t logical, it’s not important.” The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Trinidad’s life. She was also the kind of person who could respect a “do not disturb” sign, whether it was real or implied. She was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Trinidad was modest in her actions and extremely literal in her thoughts and in the manner in which she communicated with others. When Trinidad said something, she meant it. All those who knew her appreciated this trademark quality.

Her parents wereAquilino Valera and Alejandra Peralta. Trinidad was raised in Malabon Razil, Philippines. Even as a small child, Trinidad wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation. As Trinidad grew older, she realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, she treated everyone around her the same way. This belief in fair play served Trinidad well throughout her life and despite her natural shyness; she enjoyed a solid group of friends.

Since Trinidad sought to treat those around her with respect, she often found herself in the role of playing peacemaker within her family. She was comfortable in working through the types of sibling rivalry situations that quite often occur, because she loved the challenge of conflict resolution. She would look at the most reasonable and practical ways to settle any disputes. She had one older brother, Ricardo. Trinidad was constantly involved in activities with her brother. Trinidad and her brother had the typical rivalries while growing up, but they shared many life experiences.

During her childhood, family and friends viewed Trinidad as a quiet and reserved person with what most would consider a calm and tranquil demeanor. In fact, she was a fairly curious child who had the ability to entertain herself and didn’t require much in the way of outside stimulation. A great deal of Trinidad’s free time was spent learning how and why the things around her worked. She was an active child who loved being outdoors and absorbing all the sensory input that nature could provide. In her spare time she liked to knit.

The fact that she was curious was an asset to Trinidad while she was in school. She possessed strong study skills and good concentration. She relished the task of scrutinizing problems, investigating all of the options and then solving them. Trinidad enjoyed tackling the project that was right in front of her and working it straight through to its conclusion. Sometimes, she would become so involved in the process of problem solving that she would lose awareness of her surroundings. Experience was Trinidad’s best teacher. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. She was validictorian in high school.

This same loyalty and up front honesty Trinidad shared with her friends carried over to other aspects of her life, including her relationships with her family. She married Pablo Vicencio in Malabon, Philippines. The marriage became a solid relationship, due in part to Trinidad’s skill at bringing fresh energy and clarity to meeting Pablo's needs. She was a great listener who enjoyed the couple’s “together” time, especially when it came to celebrating special occasions.

As the family grew, Trinidad was easily able to adapt to the changes and challenges of parenthood. Trinidad was blessed with seven children, six sons; Alejandro, Raul, Remigio, Cezar, Eduardo, Johnny and one daughter, Angelina. They were also blessed with eighteen grandchildren, Veronica, Paul, Alvin, Rachel, Ramir, Angela, Jerry, Lisa, Jimmy, Eduardo, Ruel, Janelyn, Grace, Glenn, Racquel, Joey, Bryan, Jorrell and Cezarina. Trinidad was never impulsive in dealing with family problems. Instead, she would carefully think things through before implementing the solution in a logical and objective manner. Trinidad was a strong, clear communicator who excelled at eliminating confusion by making matters crystal clear to all those involved. At the same time, Trinidad’s inventive nature could turn some of the boring old household chores into a fun activity for the family.

Trinidad’s curious and inquisitive nature influenced her choice of leisure pursuits as well. She applied her strong concentration and analytical skills as to how things worked to her choice of activities. She particularly enjoyed the “alone” time her hobbies provided. Her favorite pursuits were spending time with her family. Trinidad was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Religion and faith were important to Trinidad. She held dear the faith and values she derived from her beliefs. She was a member of St. Edward Parish for 25 years. During that time, she was a member of the Legion of Mary.

Trinidad appreciated the occasions when she was able to travel and get away on a vacation. She enjoyed learning about different locales and was open to exploring new and different places. Favorite vacations included trips to California and Canada. She thoroughly enjoyed the task of gathering and analyzing travel information as she prepared for an upcoming trip.

Trinidad was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of Trinidad’s favorites was Kitty, a house cat. They were best friends for 3 years. Her family was rounded out by her other cat, Codey.

As her retirement approached, Trinidad viewed the event as just one more project to research and solve. So, when the day finally arrived in 1988, she was well prepared.

Trinidad passed away on February 9, 2011 at Swedish Medical Center, First Hill in Seattle, Washington. Trinidad died of natural causes. She is survived by her 5 children, 19 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Services were held at St. Edward Catholic Church on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 10:00am. Trinidad was laid to rest in Hillcrest Cemetery in Kent Washington.

Trinidad strongly believed that talk is cheap. She was the type of person who would show others her feelings through her actions. She was practical and realistic but was able to be flexible when the need arose. She had a curiosity about the things around her and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences she treasured most were those she shared with her loved ones. Trinidad Peralta Valera will be greatly missed..