It is with utter heartbreak that the family of Kristine Melanie DeMaere announces her sudden passing on Sunday, February 19, 2023 while driving home from a wonderfully restorative Disneyworld holiday with her father. Kristine will be forever lovingly remembered by him, Don DeMaere, her mother Deb (Rob) Johnston, her siblings Sherril (Adam) Ferguson, Jon DeMaere and David DeMaere, her Grandpa John DeMaere and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her grandparents Marg & Bev McAfee and Carol DeMaere.
Kristine was an honour student who chose her lifework in helping others, first as a Continuing Care Assistant (working at Qu’Appelle House in Regina, Cypress House in Swift Current and Herb Bassett Home in Prince Albert) and then as a Licensed Practical Nurse working at Mont St. Joseph Home and then Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert. After years working primarily with the elderly, Kristine had recently transferred to work in the Victoria Hospital Emergency Department where she felt she had found her niche in the diversity of care required and the supportive team in the department.
Following in the footfalls of her father, Kristine had a great love of travelling. Starting with her grade 12 trip to Europe, many wonderful family sojourns to Disneyland and Disneyworld, ‘roughing’ it with dad (and other family) in his Crowsnest Camping spot, several medieval camping trips with the SCA and a wonderful BC trip with a friend, she would surely have continued to explore the world in the years to come given the chance.
When not travelling the world (or just to visit out of town friends and family) Kristine could be found most often ensconced at home with her three beloved cats Connor, Tyler and Hudson with her Livingroom jungle of diverse houseplants (she was especially proud of her grape vines); skillfully and/or humorously gaming with her many online friends; cooking and baking copious dainties and treats for coworkers, family and friends and experimenting with an ever-growing myriad of beautiful handicrafts. When she took time to just get out and about, she enjoyed gardening, geocaching, hiking, camping, fishing, playing Pokemon Go as well as extended shopping excursions with her mom or her sister, especially around any holiday season.
From the time she was a little girl, Kristine was entranced by Mother Nature, and not just the cute creatures that entertain most folks! She was often chased out of the house with her latest collection of would-be pets like bees, caterpillars, ladybugs and even slugs! She adored the ravens, magpies and especially the white-throated sparrows found aplenty in the Fort McMurray area (and in Prince Albert too, where she took to feeding them) and the larger wildlife like owls, foxes and deer. She never outgrew the wonder for the wilderness. Having grown up in Fort McMurray, she was delighted to find Prince Albert had an overall similar feel, carved out of the brush and begging to be explored, which she did at every opportunity. One of her last great delights was finding a whole, if tiny, acorn on a walk while in Florida.
If you ask anyone who knows her, they will tell you how kind, generous and thoughtful Kristine was. She would come in to work on days off with treats, crafts or other activities for the care home residents, was quick to help a friend or co-worker in need, and was always devoted to her family. More than one person upon meeting her dubbed her “Sunshine” and it is a nickname that suited her well. She touched so many lives with that spirit and that light will be sorely missed. Kristine, however, would not want us to cry, she would want us to celebrate life and remember to share our love with everyone we meet.
Kristine’s Celebration of Life was on June 23rd (2023), we met at 3:30pm (CST) at Lady Slipper Courtyard, Wascana Place, Regina, traveled to a Legacy Tree planted in her honour in Wascana Park, then shared a light supper, memories and other honouring festivities back at the Lady Slipper Courtyard. The event was livecast, and the recordings of that are available here.
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