Annette Louise Spencer van Valkenburgh, loving wife, mother

Annette Louise Spencer van Valkenburgh passed away peacefully Christmas morning, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, at home in Georgetown, under the compassionate care of Access Hospice.

Adopted by Ernest and Thelma Adams Spencer in Homewood, Ill., just south of Chicago, Annette always knew she was chosen and loved. After spending her formative years in Illinois, she won a merit scholarship to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in business. At Miami, she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and distinguished herself in horseback events. Her love for her alma mater was lifelong.

Annette began her professional career in Chicago at Arthur Young & Co. (now Ernst & Young) as an accountant focused on large audits and estates. Many years later, she retired as a CPA from the law firm of Smith, O'Donnell et al. in Georgetown.

While on a guided tour of Europe with a friend, Annette met the tour leader, a young man with a mustache and a foreign accent. Unknown to the tourists, the leader was also an American. Holland van Valkenburgh, from Georgetown, had recently separated from the U.S. Army in Germany. Their serendipitous meeting led to a love story that spanned 58 years. Holland returned to the U.S., got a job that took him to Chicago and persuaded Annette to marry him.

The couple later migrated to Westfield, N.J., so Annette’s husband could commute to Wall Street. A dozen years later, they decided on a trial move to the family home in Georgetown, using the office of Holland’s late father, G.M. van Valkenburgh, MD, (Dr. Van to his patients).

Annette is survived by her husband, Glennwood Holland van Valkenburgh; their children, Kristen Jaan van Valkenburgh of New York City and Jason Adams van Valkenburgh (Mia Okamura) of Great Falls, Va.; and grandchildren, Glenn Koji and Emi Natalie.

Annette was most proud of her children’s success and independence. She cherished the family dogs, BJ, Rocket, Maggie, and, most recently, Henry; as well as cats, Isaak and Mischa, who she inherited when Jaan moved overseas.

She greatly enjoyed reading, especially the murder mysteries of female British writers Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and P.D. James. Most recently, she was reading the novels of David Baldacci. Until her illness, she also liked challenging jigsaw puzzles.

Her memory will remain a source of comfort and inspiration to all who knew her.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 122 E. Pine St., Georgetown, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Georgetown Public Library or Georgetown Kiwanis Club.