CHRISTINA SOPHIA BUDDICK

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CHRISTINA SOPHIA BUDDICK

We would like to announce the passing of Christina Sophia Buddick, our loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Peacefully on November 26, 2020, at her residence, the River East Personal Care Home in East Kildonan, Manitoba, she left us with grace and dignity at age 93.
Christina was born in Nederhorst den Berg, the Netherlands in 1926 to parents, Dirk and Sophia Pouw. She had one sister and one brother, Doris and Theo. She spent her childhood and formative years in this small Dutch village attending school, playing in the Dutch countryside and participating in the community.
Christianity was the foundation of Christina's life. She began cultivating devout Christian values in the Netherlands at a very young age. A large Roman Catholic cathedral dominated the landscape of her village. Christina attended the church frequently as did her family. The nuns taught her how to sew. As a young girl, she contributed her seamstress skills back to the church during the Second World War. The education and experiences of that church profoundly influenced her lifelong faith.
In 1945, during the post-war celebrations, Christina met a handsome Canadian serviceman named Steve Buddick, whom she married in that same cathedral. She moved to Canada with Steve and settled in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The laughter of children soon filled their home. The young and growing family lived in numerous towns and cities in western Canada including Hart, Manitoba - Wainwright, Alberta - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Yorkton, Saskatchewan and Brandon, Manitoba.
Many people from Brandon (1963 to 1985) will remember Christina for her involvements with St. Augustine's Church, St. Michael's Academy and the Catholic Women's League. Students of that ethos will remember Mrs Buddick as their catechism teacher. Many others will remember her hobby selling Avon and her career working as a correctional officer at the Youth Centre and Women's jail. Along with these accomplishments and above all, she was the mother of seven children and matriarch to a beautiful multi-generational family.
Christina was predeceased by our dad Steve Buddick (1981) and second husband Jack Haggerty (2008). She was sadly predeceased by three of her seven children, Raymond (1990), Shirley (2020) and Beverly (2020). She will be fondly remembered by her daughter Christine Scott (Bob), son-in-law Mel Montgomery, sons, Larry (Carol), Mervin, Vincent, and grandchildren, Debb (Colin), Gord (Lucy), James (Monika), Star (Justin) and Jordan (Cynthia). Many great-grandchildren will share in her spirit as the warmth, love, humour and morality that she cultivated in that church in the Netherlands is passed down. Special family in the Netherlands, Tilly Pouw and Henke Pouw will cherish the many lovely memories of their beloved Tante Tiny. Far away but forever in our hearts.
As sad as the time is right now, we will learn to celebrate her beautiful life. Christina will live on in legacy in the many hearts and souls she has fostered, nurtured and contributed to in the almost century of time she has graced our world.
Father Dominic Yuen presided over a small family funeral on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at the Chapel Lawn Funeral Home in Winnipeg. A larger memorial will be planned for a later date.
Christina's family extends our appreciation to her care home staff for their dedication.
In memory of Christina you could enrich your knowledge of Alzheimer's disease delay and prevention therapies and perhaps plant some commemorative tulip bulbs in your yard. She would like that. She loved flowers.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 12, 2020