Dennibelle Inn has been unique since its inception in 2005 because it was opened at the time its founder, Valerie Martinez, was undergoing chemotherapy. Valerie has always believed in “miracles.” Dennibelle Inn has been her own miracle and salvation at a very dark period of her life because it is the embodiment of her lifelong dream. Valerie’s life has always been a life of service to others – family, friends, neighbors as well as her community. She started her career as an elementary school teacher. In 1981, when Valerie moved to California she decided to leave the field of education in order to work at a nursing home. Since then she loves caring and serving the elderly that she ended up working in several nursing homes in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. When her own father died in 1992, her elderly mother, Maria, has moved in with Valerie’s family and has lived with them ever since. It is through her love of service to these old folks that she dreamt of having her own special place for the elderly.
In 2004 when she was diagnosed of breast cancer after 15 year remission her will to survive exists in the vision of her dream. Thus, while she was in between her chemotherapy sessions on top of gardening she decided to make her dream a reality and that was the beginning of Dennibelle Inn. Dennibelle Inn is not only an embodiment of a miraculous dream but also of a mother’s love and passion as she named it after her two children. In Dennibelle Inn, she created a special and unique place for the elderly because her love goes beyond its residents and staff members but to their families as well.