Valeria Ann Olds

Valeria Ann Olds was born Valeria Ann Stuart on December 16, 1953 in Texarkana, Arkansas. She was raised by her loving Mother and Father, Charles and Lorene Iverson in Chicago, Illinois. As a child she was affectionately nicknamed “Rusty”.

Valeria graduated from Oglesby Elementary School and Lindblom College Prep High school in Chicago. After High School, she attended Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois. She later attained Master’s degrees from both St. Xavier College-Chicago and Governor’s State University. After working in the Banking industry for a short time, she embarked on her educational career, which included serving as a Special Education Teacher/Administrator, Assistant Principal and MSD - Management Support Director, overseeing multiple schools within Chicago Public Schools. Her loving, empathetic yet stern approach to her duties gained her a reputation as being an extremely professional, knowledgeable, and caring individual. She became a mother figure to countless children in the Chicagoland area.

Valeria accepted Christ at an early age and began playing piano for the children’s ministry at a local church as a teenager. Valeria met her soul mate Richard Olds, while both sang in the Northwestern University Community Ensemble Choir. Valeria and Richard united in holy matrimony June 7, 1975 following her graduation from Northwestern. To that union was born four beautiful children – Richard, Latricia, Meredith and Lela and eventually five amazing grandchildren – Reagan, Karsten, Gavin, Kailyn and Maisy. After marriage, she and Richard were one of the founding members of Sweet Holy Spirit Church. They also served at Christian Youth Church, Valley Kingdom Ministries International, and Lighthouse Church of all Nations, where she was adopted as “Mom” by Bishop Dan Willis, serving faithfully until her health failed. Her labor of love while serving in these aforementioned Ministries included playing for/teaching/directing the Sunshine Band, “The Lillies,” Daughters of Zion, visiting nursing homes, conducting marital/premarital counseling, and performing duties as an Elder.

Valeria lit up a room with her beautiful smile whenever she walked in. It is impossible to find anyone who didn’t love her. All she came in contact with were better for having known her. If ever there was anyone you could say with assurance is walking the streets of Gold, it’s Valeria!! Although God blessed her with four children, she always had a goal of having a larger family. She achieved that goal with the thousands of surrogate children she mothered in the school system, those she babysat, and the ones she provided with piano lessons.

God realized that He needed an additional member to His Heavenly choir, so he selected Valeria and called her to Eternal rest on Thursday morning, January 11, 2024.

Valeria leaves to fondly cherish her memory, Richard, her husband of 48 years of marriage and 2 years of dating, Mother and Father, Charles and Lorene Iverson; four children: Richard, Latricia, Meredith, and Lela; five grandchildren: Reagan Seye, Karsten Olds, Gavin Seye, Kailyn Olds, and Maisy Olds; sisters-in-law: Pearline Henson and Mattie Olds; former son-in-law Eric Seye; play daughter Cherlonda Howard; six God children: Janee Pryor, Jeremy and Jamal Ephraim, Davon Henson, and Cosette Ayele; her “Golden Girls” friends for life - Ruby Douglas and Creola Hampton; her spiritual family and Marriage Class at Lighthouse and a host of cousins, aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews, and friends.

ENJOY YOUR ETERNAL REST!