In loving memory of Val Collet
With sadness, we announce the passing of Val Collet, a devoted British nurse whose compassionate service touched countless lives in Nepal. Arriving in 1959 in Nepal, she dedicated 35 years to caring for the sick and nurturing the next generation of nurses. More popularly known as Valerie didi among Nepali nurses, she served selflessly at Shanta Bhawan Hospital (now Patan Hospital), Amp Pipal, Tansen, and Gorkha, and also taught at the Institution of Medicine in Maharajgunj.
Val bid farewell to Nepal in 1994 but carried its spirit in her heart, returning often until age made travel difficult. She passed away on Monday, January 27, at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of love, healing and dedication.
Her service and the love for the people of Nepal will forever be remembered. We thank God for her life and send our prayers and warm thoughts to her family.
We had the immense privilege of being co-workers, neighbors and friends with Val Collett, initially at the Amp Pipal Mission Hospital and Community Health Program in 1970, and then from 1990 – 1993, in Bans Baari, Kathmandu, where we both lived on Nursery Lane. Val was teaching at the Maharajgung campus of the Nursing School, and Cynthia was at the Institute of Medicine. Along with like-minded Korean neighbors, we were led by God to start fellowship meetings in our homes. Together, these morphed into the Bans Baari Church which continues today, with fully local leadership and five satellite congregations. We stayed in touch with Valerie over the years and in 2002, our entire family participated in the 150th anniversary of Interserve UK and put on a program at Val’s request in Bognor Regis, U.K. We honor and bless Val’s memory as she has now received her eternal reward for a life lived for the glory of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.