A tribute to Valerie French was published in the November 2024 newsletter of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland.
It can be seen here and is reproduced below:

A tribute to Valerie French

Valerie Jane French (1977-2019). Valerie.rip

Valerie French trained at Cardiff University (1997-2000) and practised as an Occupational Therapist from 2000-2019.

Valued and warmly remembered in every workplace setting, Valerie’s first post was in St Helen’s, near Liverpool. She moved back to Ireland in 2002, working briefly in West Cork, then St Mary’s Hospital & Residential School, Dublin. After 2 years in Kerry Mental Health Services Valerie moved to Mayo Mental Health Services, and subsequently Mayo Primary Care Services. In April 2011, returning to Mayo Mental Health Services as a Senior OT, she was embraced by her Occupational Therapy team, multidisciplinary colleagues, administrative and support staff – Valerie had a wide reach.  

Valerie lit up every room, bringing an irrepressible joy to the clients, colleagues and the wider public she touched in her work. She was a consummate professional, with a flair for enabling clients she worked with, and mentoring students she supervised. One former client often speaks of their strong sense of Valerie still helping, guiding and watching over them, saying, “I am now living the life that I worked towards when I was setting my life goals with Valerie”.  

Valerie was perfectly suited to the field of mental health. She had a significant impact on the development of a people-centred, creative and recovery-orientated OT service in Mayo. She also supported the development of the Individual Placement & Support Service in Mayo.

In the field of Occupational Therapy, Valerie was inspiring and innovative, often ahead of others in promoting new ways of working. She had a particular interest in the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability and the Kawa River Model as well as more mainstream OT models.

Writing in the Sunday Independent Magazine in 2009, on a “Vision for Change: Reshaping Mental Health in Ireland” Valerie describes her OT approach: “My role is to work with people to enable them to return to doing everyday activities, so they can take control of their world and regain a meaningful life for themselves …. I believe that by truly listening to people and their families, recovery is a real option”.

Valerie’s energy and vitality were magnetic, alongside humour, she was genuine, honest and kind to everyone she met. Those of us who were privileged to know her, to work or study with her, and to call her a friend, will forever cherish our memories of her and regret her loss forever.

By Edwina Rushe & Heather Bullen