Valerie Tanner-Pollioni

Valerie Tanner-Pollioni passed away peacefully on Nov 20, 2011 at 5:05 p.m., after a short & courageous battle with cancer, with her two sons by her side. She was born Valerie Margaret Dyke on September 21, 1935 in the Enfield district in London, England. A few years later World War 2 broke out. The German air raids were in full force in London, and her family were bombed out of their home three times before young Val and her elder sister Christine were evacuated and sent to live with strangers in the English countryside. This was a common occurrence for young children in Britain’s inner cities during wartime. She and her sister lived with their host family for a year before returning home to their mother in London. As a teenager Val worked at the age of sixteen, and attended Tottenham Technical School and enjoyed dating, movies and dancing every weekend.

In January of 1958, at the age of 22, she immigrated to the U.S. she spent a short time in N.Y. city before coming to Southern California for a lead on a job with $25.00 in her pocket.

Once in Los Angeles she got a job as secretary to the producers at CBS “Television City” where she worked on commercials that aired during the “I love Lucy” television show, among others. She left CBS during an engineer strike, and most of the commercial production was moved back to New York. She then began work with McCann-Erickson advertising for a short time before taking a job with KDAY radio, where she met her future husband, Disc Jockey, Bill Tanner. She and Bill were married in 1961, and moved to San Bernardino. It was there, that the couple gave birth to their first child Timothy in Dec of 1962. The family moved to Ventura in 1966. The couple gave birth to their second child Christopher in 1969. Val and Bill were divorced in 1976 and she raised her two sons mostly on her own.

In 1968 Val got a job with Community Memorial Hospital as a secretary, and remained at the hospital for nearly 28 years working her way up to executive secretary, and eventually Medical Staff Coordinator where she was in charge of verifying credentials of all physicians on staff.

In 1984 Val met and married Robert Pollioni. The two shared a love of travelling, and took numerous cruises together. Bob was a veteran and patriot; it was he who urged Val to become a U.S. citizen. This was achieved by Val in 1986, and something she was very proud of. They remained married until Bob's death in 2004.

Always one to enjoy a party and loved travelling, she began to enjoy travelling on her own. However she wasn’t alone, as she possessed an ability to meet and strike up conversations with strangers who soon became friends. By the end of her life she had visited many ports of call, and had numerous friends from all around the world.

Val is survived by sons Timothy of Ventura and Christopher (Cameron) of Monterey, CA. Grandchildren: Brooke Rae, Jordan Christopher, and Bailey Nicole of Ventura; sister, Christine (Robert) Wills; nieces and nephew Nicola, Kate and Robert (Dawn) Wills of England; brothers: Maldwyn and Hue (Becky) Thomas of Ireland. Stepchildren: Louise (Bruce) Sheingold, Robert Pollioni Jr. (Maia); step-grandchildren: Ross, Nick and Brett of N.Y.NY; Elias & Noah Pollioni of Ontario Canada.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00p.m. Saturday Dec. 3rd, in the chapel of Charles Carroll Funeral Home, 15 Teloma Dr. Ventura.

The family wishes to thank loved ones for their continued help and support during this difficult time.

Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Charles Carroll Funeral Home. 805-642-8134.

Val is survived by sons Timothy of Ventura and Christopher (Cameron) of Monterey, CA. Grandchildren: Brooke Rae, Jordan Christopher, and Bailey Nicole of Ventura; Stepchildren: Louise (Bruce) Sheingold and Robert Pollioni Jr. (Maia); step-grandchildren: Elias and Noah Pollioni of Ontario, Canada; Ross, Nick and Brett Sheingold of N.Y.NY

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday Dec. 3rd, in the chapel of Charles Carroll Funeral Home, 15 Teloma Dr. Ventura.

The family wishes to thank loved ones for their continued help and support during this difficult time.

Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Charles Carroll Funeral Home. 805-642-8134.