It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Valerie Mary Dean (née Oxton). She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend to all whose lives she touched. She passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2024, following a brief hospitalization.

Valerie was born on June 7, 1954, at Brooklyn’s Midwood Hospital, Kings County, New York. She was the youngest of six first-generation, Irish-American children born to Charles (Charlie) Joseph Anthony Oxton and Johanna (Jo) Oxton (née Haring), better known as “Mema,” both of whom preceded Valerie in death.

The day Valerie was born was an especially exciting day for the Oxton Family. Valerie shares her birthday, June 7th, with her oldest brother, Chip. When baby Valerie arrived on Chip’s 7th birthday, he was absolutely thrilled. He bragged to family and friends for months about how his parents 'got him the best birthday gift ever' -- his baby sister, Valerie.

In 1957, when Valerie was 3, she and her family moved to Santa Barbara from Brooklyn, New York, where she remained for 40 years.

Valerie attended Santa Barbara’s Notre Dame Elementary School (previously Dolores School), before moving on to Bishop Garcia Diego High School, where Valerie was nominated to the 1971 Homecoming Court in her Senior Year. Valerie, and her future husband, Donald B. Dean, Jr. were both graduates of Bishop Diego’s Class of 1972, marrying at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in late 1980.

Valerie’s nature was always so generous and supportive, providing comfort to her loved ones without exception, which is one of the many reasons Valerie devoted most of her life to working with children, initially running a home-based daycare, and more recently, working with special needs children as a pre-k and elementary school teaching assistant with Morongo Valley Unified School District.

Valerie was a loving, dedicated mother to her 5 children, and was equally devoted to her 6 precious grandchildren.

As an organ and tissue donor, Valerie extended her impact far beyond her own life, giving in death just as she did in life. It’s a powerful reminder of how one person's generosity can continue to resonate, helping others in earthly life beyond their own.

Valerie is survived by her eldest son, Christopher Krein and her daughters, Jacquie Nicholson (Trent), Bonnie Dean, and Desiree Dean; her grandchildren Logan, Jocelynn & Ronon Hughes, Sar’h Dean, Isaiah & Selah Nicholson; her sister Kathleen “Kay” Warnock (Stephen), two brothers, Charles “Chip” Oxton (Georgia) & Dennis Oxton (Karen), her maternal cousin, Marie Partney (David), and her sister in law, Renee Malloy.

Valerie also loved, and is remembered by, her nieces and nephews, J’Aimèe, Adrienne, Chad & Joshua Oxton; Danielle and Jacob Bonaventura; Matthew (Kate) and Megan Oxton; and her grand-niece, Ashlyn Oxton-Madrigal.

Valerie is now reunited with loved ones who preceded her in death, including her youngest son, Anthony Lucas Dean; her husband, Donald Benjamin Dean, Jr.; her sister, Joanie (Oxton) Laughlin (Terry), her brother, David Matthew Oxton, two maternal aunts, Sr. Mary Rosalia (Mary Edith Haring), CSJ & Patricia Carelli (Bangle), uncle Fred Carelli, paternal aunt, Anne L. Oxton (née Kelly), and paternal uncle, John Gerard “Jack” Oxton, Sr., her paternal grandparents, John Francis and Jane Elizabeth (Curran) Oxton, Jr., and her maternal grandparents, John Herman Haring and Mary Edith Patton.

All who knew Valerie loved her dearly, and will never forget her kindness, gentleness, love of children, or the endless devotion she had to her faith, her family, and her friends. She will be deeply missed.

The family of 70-year-old Valerie Mary Oxton Dean will celebrate her life at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (21 East Sola Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101) with a Funeral Mass in Valerie’s honor at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 19, 2024.

A private Graveside Service at Santa Barbara’s Calvary Cemetery will be held at a later date.

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