Christina was born February 6th, 1937 in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, in the Netherlands to Cornelius & Geertruida Biesbroek, the second youngest of seven children. Christina grew up in the Netherlands.

Christina is survived by her children: Linda (Zach) Bird, and Ronald (Peggy) Den Hoed; grandchildren & great-grandchild: Kirsten Marks, Nickolaus Moedt, Megan Bird, Zachary Bird, Spirit Den Hoed, Leonardo Marsh, Stephanie, Bettina, Alex, Rayven, Colton, Jose, Mason and Nico, and Tim Remmington, who was like a second son to her.

Christina was predeceased by her husband Leonard Den Hoed, brothers, Corny & Bill, and sisters Gerie & Jannie.

In 1968, Christine came to Canada to visit her relatives in Lethbridge, where she met Leonard den Hoed. They were engaged shortly thereafter and Leonard traveled back to Holland with her, where they got married in February of 1969. They began their married life by immigrating to Canada on their honeymoon. Christine was excited to be a mom to her firstborn Linda and to her son Ron.

She gave the gift of life through hundreds of blood donations and spent many years volunteering for Canadian Blood Services, offering juice and cookies to the donors. Getting her Canadian citizenship was also a special highlight for Christina.

Christine will be lovingly remembered for her gift of knitting. She spent many years knitting tiny toques for newborns at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital. She knitted to the very end, having completed 144 baby blankets which she donated to the Lethbridge Pregnancy Centre. Many of her friends and relatives can hang their memories on the hangers she knitted, always tied up with a delicate little bow.

One such memory would be her phone calls. Christine would call to tell you about special gifts she had received and to make sure you knew the weather report. Many will recall more than one message left on the answering machine. The words “Goodbye, I love you sweetheart,” will be missed.

She will be especially missed by her faithful friend, Cindy Charles, who was there for Christine when she broke her leg in November 2021, until her final days. Christine shared many happy memories with Cindy too. Cindy took time to do her hair and nails, events always shared by Christine during those many phone calls. Christine celebrated every holiday, over her years in the nursing homes, with her friend Cindy, who brought special cheer with beautiful room decorations. They played many bingo games together and celebrated every win.

A special thank you for your kindness and perseverance goes out to any and all of the nursing home staff that worked with her over her final years. The family truly appreciates all of you.

A gathering for family and friends will be arranged at a later date. Christine’s cremation is entrusted to Cornerstone Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation (heartandstroke.ca). The life bringing gift of a blood donation made in her memory to Canadian Blood Services would also be a blessing.

Christine will be forever remembered in our hearts.