A dear friend and very influential person in my life died April 11th. Today was her memorial and a chance to reconnect with my friends that I have lost touch the past few years. I have posted some pictures at http://waidhere.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!B56799958BD8D618!396/.

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While her obituary is online, here is a local copy of the Seattle Times entry (http://www.legacy.com/nwclassifieds/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=107954777)

Helena M. "Nickie" Christiansen

Helena M. "Nickie" CHRISTIANSEN August 23, 1926 ~ April 11, 2008 Nickie was born in Saskatoon,Saskatchewan, Canada. She and her mother later moved to Vancouver, B.C., where she married and had her first son, Guy Middleton. That marriage later ended.

In 1963, Nickie and Guy happily created a family with Thomas Christiansen. Later that year, the family immigrated to the U.S. and welcomed the birth of a second son, Kim. After Nickie retired from the UW Department of Pharmacy, she and Tom enjoyed retirement together and were inseparable until his death in 1998. After selling the family home in Mountlake Terrace in 2002, Nickie moved to Chateau at Bothell Landing. In 2006, she moved to Angel Care Adult Family Home in Lake Forest Park.

She has been slipping away for the past few years and finally gave up her struggles with the creeping fog of vascular dementia. Her children, Guy Middleton of Everett, and Kim and Tina Christiansen of Shoreline, will miss her greatly, but they will remember her laugh and how much she loved them. She will also be mourned by cousin Diane Minty in England and a host of friends. Many thanks to Maggie, Al and the staff at Angel Care for the tender care they have provided.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at Kim's house, Sunday, April 27 beginning at 2 p.m. Details posted at http://web.mac.com/imtinac. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the National Stroke Association, www.stroke.org.

Goodbye Mom. We hope you caught up with all those words you lost.
Published in print from 4/20/2008 - 4/21/2008.

Memorial Web site:

http://web.mac.com/imtinac/Nickie/Welcome.html

Seattle Times online obituary (with weird spacing issues)

http://www.legacy.com/nwclassifieds/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=107954777

Everett Herald online obituary

http://www.legacy.com/HeraldNet/Obituaries.asp?Page=Notice&PersonID=108039191