With heavy hearts, we announce that Cristina passed away on July 25, 2022 in Grace Hospice at 80 years of age.

 

She was predeceased by her husband Camilo last year on July 26, 2021 and is survived by her children Cristina (Randy), Pilar (Donna), Susana (Dean), and Camilo; grandchildren Julia, Alexandra, Jordan, Nolan, Connor, Erik, Brynne, Camilo, and Oriana; great grandchildren Arlo, River, and Kaden; and surviving siblings in Chile; Eugenio, Donatila, Antonio and Luis. Brothers Fernando and Sabino predeceased her.

 

Cristina grew up in Santiago Chile. In school she had to take English class as part of the curriculum but hated it saying “why do I need to learn to speak English – I’m never going to need to speak it”– little did she know…

 

In Santiago she belonged to a neighbourhood women’s co-op where she learned many crafts and household tips.  Because there was food rationing in Chile at the time Cristina was known to make one tomato and one colisa (ciabatta) feed many people! And in Chile she made carrot juice from scratch for her family - yum! She would shred the carrots and then using a cheesecloth she would strain the carrots to produce the yummy carrot juice! 

 

In 1974 Cristina and Camilo emigrated to Winnipeg with their family in search of a more peaceful and prosperous life.  In Winnipeg Cristina worked as a seamstress at H.A.S.H. Jeans until she became a grandmother.

Cristina was a strong woman; she hated being asked for ID so she determined to learn to drive and get her license and then never drove again in her life, but she now had ID. With her limited English, she took a home care course at Bethania Personal Care Home and was very proud of her diploma, which she never put to practice, opting instead to care for her grandkids. She had a love for word search puzzles, knitting, crochet and her Latin soap operas. Even though she said she didn't like to cook, she leaves behind a legacy of fabulous dishes the family tries to recreate, like Chilean chicken and rice, garbanzos, homemade mayonnaise, and her four-layer birthday cakes.

 

 Cristina’s life centred on her family and she leaves a legacy of unconditional love.  She loved her children and took care of her grandchildren until they were old enough to go to school. Her grandchildren will always remember days spent at her house, learning her Spanglish, eating her delicious cooking, sleepovers, playing Lota, dancing, and watching her Latin shows on Telemundo!  One of her sayings that she will always be remembered for is “it’s better to waste one second of your life, than to waste your life in one second”.

 

Cristina will be sadly missed by all her family near and far.

  

In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place and no formal service will be held.