Emeline M. Vanvalkenburg

West Sand Lake- Emeline Whalen VanValkenburg, 85 of West Sand Lake, NY passed away peacefully on March 25, 2021.  Born in Albany, NY to Daniel and Eleanor (Mitchell) Whalen.  Emme worked for Mountainview Coach Lines in Rensselaer and retired from Blue Cross/Blue Shield.   She was a quiet presence but the biggest fan at all of her grandchildren’s sporting events.  She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, who always put her family first.   She and her friends, from the Firehouse days,  started a card club that met for several decades and eventually morphed into a dinner club.  She is survived by her three daughters, Nancy (Martin) Conroy of Ballston Lake, NY, Jill (Douglas) Messer of Sunnyvale, CA, and Tara Booker of Cohoes, NY.  Proud Gram of Jason (Marcee) Browe, Liza (Rob) Browe, Kia (Geoff) Loiacono, Kyle (Ali) Beck, Courtney (David) Patnode, Davis, Anna and Isaac Messer, Jonah and Aidan Booker.  Step Grandmother to Greg, Drew, and Meghan Conroy.  Great Gram to Leah, Jamison, Adrianna, Gianna, Lilianna, Juliette, Harper, Dalton and Drake.  Also survived by her sisters-in-law Ann Whalen and Susan Whalen, many nieces and nephews.  Emeline was predeceased by her dear husband of over 60 years, Edward W. VanValkenburg and her precious daughter Lori Beck.  Her parents and siblings Ruth, Daniel, Catherine Lasch, Joan Stanford, and Royal. A special thank you to Casey and the staff of Eddy Village Green House 2 and 14 who made her journey comfortable and took such great care of her when family and friends were unable to visit due to the Coronavirus protocols. Relatives and friends may call at the W. J. Lyons, Jr., Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Ave., Rensselaer on Monday, March 29, 2021 from 4 to 7 pm.  A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 10am at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Williams Road, Troy, NY followed by interment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. Contributions can be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association.