Valentina Horacek

In Loving Memory of Valentina Horacek March 12, 1949 – January 11, 2026

Valentina Horacek, 76 years old, passed away peacefully after a year‑long journey with glioblastoma. She was born in Mimoň, in the Sudetenland region of the Czech Republic, to a Czech father (Bohumil Budinsky) and a Russian mother (Valentina Budinska). She met her future husband, Jasmir Horacek, at the age of 15 while completing her education at the Civil Institute of Technology in Liberec. They married a few years after graduation, in 1972, and in the following year they welcomed their eldest daughter, Marketa. Seven years later, their second daughter, Ivana was born.

In 1981, Valentina and her husband emigrated to Canada and settled in the Calgary community of Bowness. Together, they transformed a tiny house into a beautiful family home, where they raised their daughters and lived together for nearly 40 years. Valentina made countless sacrifices to give her children opportunities she herself never had. Escaping the constraints of a Communist regime and beginning anew across the world was an act of quiet courage and love—one that shaped the opportunities both parents worked so hard to provide for their children.

In Canada, Valentina built a successful cleaning business. Her attention to detail and the personal care she brought to her work earned her a loyal clientele and a strong reputation. She often travelled back to the Czech Republic, staying close to the country and culture she loved. Over time, Canada became home as well, and she fully embraced the life she created here. She also found great joy in travelling to Hawaii with her family, drawn to the flowers, the calm, and the deep sense of peace she found there.

Valentina was a joyful soul — someone who loved deeply and whose laughter came easily. Though naturally introverted, she cherished people and people sought out her friendship. Her grandchildren — Ray, Elodie, and Benji — brought her immeasurable joy, and even in her final days they could easily bring a smile to her face.

Valentina cherished caring for her home and loved the life she and Jasmir built together. They took great pleasure in working their garden, tending flowers and raspberry bushes that grew more plentiful each year. She especially treasured the days when her grandchildren visited, filling the house and yard with the laughter and energy she loved so much.

She enjoyed many creative and outdoor pursuits. A gifted knitter and a skilled seamstress, she made beautiful sweaters and garments for herself and her family. She was a keen reader of historical fiction and many other genres. She loved spending summers hiking, and in the winters she and her husband shared countless days cross‑country skiing with friends in Kananaskis Country—a pastime she treasured throughout her life.

With her family by her side, she passed away with a smile on her face at Crossroads Hospice, where she spent the last seven months of her life. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Jasmir Horacek; her sister, Marie Spolkova; her daughters, Marketa van den Elzen and Ivana Horacek; her son‑in‑law, Sebastien Launay; and her beloved grandchildren, Ray, Elodie, and Benjamin. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who cared for her during this journey, especially the compassionate staff and volunteers at Crossroads Hospice.

A memorial service, followed by a reception, will be held on Thursday, January 22 at 11:00 a.m. at Kearney Columbia Bowell Chapel, 219 6th St., New Westminster.

Flowers are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations in Valentina’s name may be made to Crossroads Hospice Society.

Legacy Live Streaming - Service for Valentina Horacek