Obituaries

Amador Valley Alum Died Sunday After Battle with Cancer

Services for Monica Van Wegen will be Tuesday at Valley Community Church.

Monica L. Van Wegen
April 20, 1979 – December 25, 2011
Pleasanton

Monica L. Van Wegen, an track star who motivated
countless others, died on Christmas morning after a five-year battle with brain
cancer. She was 32.

Monica was able to live an inspirational and fully functioning life until her final
weeks. Her life was always filled with tremendous energy and enthusiasm to enjoy every day to its fullest. The enthusiasm was very contagious and fun to be around.

Her energy found an outlet in running. She started by winning the 400-yard
rabbit run at Valley View School and the 400-yard race at the Hershey Nor Cal
Meet in San Jose, both while in the fourth grade. She ran competitively with great success for 11 years. She ran for fun and fitness for her entire life. Through running, she discovered her life’s work and passion as a fitness trainer and physical therapist.

The running, school and work took Monica to Eugene, Ore., San Diego, Chico,
Los Angeles, Tiburon and Sun Valley, Idaho.

Monica recorded many accomplishments at Amador Valley, including: 1997
NCS 800 meter champion; Being on the 1996 Amador HS 4x400m relay team
that was 8th fastest in the nation, 3:45.94; Being on the 1996 Amador HS NCS
Championship Cross Country team; EBAL 200m record holder, Three time EBAL
Cross Country Individual Champion; and being a member of eight Amador HS
Track and Cross Country teams that were EBAL Champions or Co-Champions.

Monica’s humor, hard work and example have been an inspiration to many,
many people, and she will be greatly missed and always remembered.

Monica is survived by her father Gary, mother Loretta, sister Jennifer, boyfriend
A.J. Denton and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Services will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at , 4455 Del Valle Parkway, Pleasanton, Calif.

11:30 a.m.: Service at Valley Community Church
2:30 p.m.: Burial at St. Augustine’s Cemetery, Pleasanton
3 p.m.: Reception at Valley Community Church

Donations in memory of Monica can be made through PayPal to: Monica Van
Wegen, at the email address: jvanwegen@yahoo.com

The family would love for all who knew and loved Moe to attend.

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