Obituary of Christine Irene Thomas

Thomas, Christine Irene died quietly on the bright and sunny afternoon of January 7, 2019, surrounded by love both human and canine, at her home in Maple Ridge, under the exceptional professional and empathetic care of MAiD, as the result of Stage Four Metastatic Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Christine was born in Calgary on June 11, 1965 and adopted by the late Kenneth and the late Cecelia (Green) Iggulden. She was also a stepdaughter of the late William Cook. Childhood was very difficult for Chris, and she struggled mightily to live up to impossible standards, illness, and family conflict. She was born a fighter, though, and after aging out of foster care, she graduated high school and spent a year volunteering with Katimavik. Chris earned a Bachelors degree (honours) in history from the University of Calgary, then a Masters degree in history from Queen’s University. Christine’s brilliant mind, dynamic leadership ability, outstanding problem solving skills and highly professional self-expectation led her to a career in social services, where she was a great asset as an Employment and Assistance Worker and Project Analyst with the Ministry of Social Development. She was Volunteer Manager at The Centre and Executive Director at VAST, the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture. Her final position was Administrator of Boardvoice, from where she retired at the onset of her illness. Chris felt that volunteerism was exceptionally important, and gave freely of her time and expertise throughout her life. She particularly felt compelled to be involved with animal rescue whenever she could, and sat on several boards of directors, often as the Chair or Secretary. On December 8, 1998, Christine attended a meeting in Calgary that changed the course of her life. She met her future wife Deb, and the rest is herstory. They were legally married (god bless Canada) on October 3, 2003. She and Deb celebrated 20 years together on December 8, 2018. Christine had several talents and interests: especially music, crochet, anything computer related, but her family and friends meant more to her than anything. She is survived by her wife Deb, their daughter Angelina, of whom she was so very proud. Her best friend of 30 years, Joe Warren, and his husband Sheldon. Her “sisterhood friends: Lydia, Heather, Rosie, Jennifer, Carla, Tiana, and Sally. The other great loves of her life were her pack: Stevie-Ray, Piper, Sawyer, Gracie, Oswald and Sienna, and they, like us, grieve her loss deeply. There will be an informal gathering at Garden Hill Funeral Home in Maple Ridge on Thursday January 10 from 7-9 P.M. where people may share stories, reminisce, and remember the beautiful soul we have lost far too soon. Chris wanted to be certain that the nurses and volunteers of the Ridge Meadows Hospital Cancer Centre and the doctor and nurses of MAiD know how very grateful she was for your care, understanding, professionalism and respect. As Christine disliked flowers, her family suggests donations to either the Lower Mainland Humane Society, or Forest and the Femme be made on her behalf if so desired.