Anne Elizabeth Finegold

Anne Elizabeth (Valbracht) Finegold passed away peacefully on June 27th, 2024. Funeral and burial services for Anne were held on July 7th, 2024, at Herzl Memorial Park in Seattle, Washington. A Celebration of Life will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates on September 15th, 2024, from 11:30 am to 3 pm.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 28th, 1979, to Stephen Valbracht and Deborah (Smith) Rinner, Anne began early education in Bettendorf, Iowa, attending Rivermont Collegiate and Mark Twain Elementary. Her family moved from Bettendorf to Newton, Iowa, in 1986. During her childhood, Anne filled her home with the sounds of cello, piano, and her beautiful soprano voice.

She attended Newton High School, participating in the school’s music and drama programs and as a cheerleader and flag girl in the marching band. Anne was recognized by the National Honors Society and graduated in 1997.

After graduating from high school, Anne pursued a major in East Asian Studies at New York University (NYU). From age 9, she was fascinated with Chinese language and culture and spent six consecutive summers in daily classes learning to speak, read, and write in Mandarin. She became fluent and spent her junior year of college studying abroad in Nanjing, China and conducting field research with minority cultures, notably the matrilineal Mosuo tribe, in remote provinces of mainland China. Anne graduated from NYU in 2001 and embarked on a graduate program in China at The Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies.

Following her graduate work, Anne moved to Hong Kong and traveled between the United States, China, and Hong Kong, working as a liaison for a textile company supplying major international fashion brands. In following years, Anne served as maître d’ at the legendary restaurant Pastis in New York City, cultural advisor and shop manager at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City, and program advisor at Canyon Ranch Health Spa in Tucson, Arizona.

On May 9th, 2009, Anne married the love of her life, Eliezer (Elie) Finegold, in Sedona, Arizona.

Anne and Elie lived in New York City and later settled in Dallas, Texas. Prior to their marriage, Anne studied diligently to convert to Judaism. She embraced Jewish teachings and traditions and chose the beautiful Hebrew name of Yael for her adoption into the Jewish people. Anne and Elie had a deep and boundless love, and took great joy in sharing time with family and friends, singing and playing music, entertaining guests, traveling the world, and simply being together.

Over the past decade, Anne was diagnosed with endometriosis and suffered complications from the condition, undergoing more than a dozen major surgeries and countless smaller procedures.

Anne and Elie approached these health challenges steadfastly, optimistically, and always united together. Anne actively shared her personal efforts and learnings across numerous support communities, becoming a trusted mentor and advocate for women struggling with endometriosis and other related issues.

Throughout her life, Anne provided unwavering love and attention to her family. She fostered and maintained worldwide friendships, even from the confines of illness cultivating wide-reaching communities around womens’ health, cooking, natural skincare & fragrances, yoga, and Judaism. Anne’s presence was palpable. She graced everyone and everything she encountered, including the most remote people and places, with a ready smile, joyful laughter, exceptional intelligence, and extraordinary compassion.

Left to honor Anne’s memory are her husband, Elie Finegold; mother, Deborah Rinner; father, Steve Valbracht; sister Kate Valbracht (Gabe Reynolds); brother, Stephen Valbracht (Jillana); father- and mother-in-law, Larry and Sharon Finegold; brother-in-law, Rafi Finegold (Rebecca Raub); and eight nieces and nephews whom Anne took great pride in and adored. Also left to honor Anne are her aunts and uncles.

Anne’s grandparents, Charles and Beverly Smith (Bettendorf, Iowa) and Reverend Louis and Lois Valbracht (Des Moines, Iowa), preceded her in death.

To see more information or RSVP for the upcoming Celebration of Life in Des Moines, give condolences, or contribute to Anne’s dedicated memorial charities, please visit everloved.com/life-of/anne-finegold.