Kristina "Tina" Hulse Chidester's Obituary
Kristina “Tina” Hulse Chidester
1970 - 2022
Kristina Hulse Chidester (Tina) passed away on July 22, 2022. After a brave 22 month battle with stage 4 breast cancer, she was able to spend her last days at home, surrounded by her loving family.
Tina was born in Salt Lake City on November 18, 1970 to John and Linda Hulse. She spent many wonderful years of her childhood in Yakima, Washington, before the family returned to Utah. She spent her teenage years in Holliday, Utah, where she graduated from Olympus High School in 1989. She loved being on the drill team and spending time with so many good friends.
Tina went on to attend the University of Utah, and soon after met her husband, Rob Chidester, on a blind date. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on May 1, 1992. As newlyweds, they moved to Walla Walla, Washington, where Tina worked to put Rob through graduate school.
Upon returning to Utah, they bought a home in West Warren, Utah, where they lived for many years and met many great friends who helped shape them as they worked to become strong marriage partners and parents. They welcomed their first three children, Beth (25), Meg (23), and Hayden (21) while living in West Warren. They also lost a child at 22 weeks. They named him Benjamin, and he would have been 18 now. Their youngest, Max (16), was born just after the family moved to Liberty/Eden Utah in 2005.
Tina always had a deep interest in the medical field, and jokingly called herself a “doctor” based on all the knowledge she obtained through watching “E.R.” and “Gray’s Anatomy.” In 2013 she decided to live her dream and become a Respiratory Therapist. After graduating, she worked for 6 years at Ogden Regional Medical Center, where she not only saved, but changed lives. Her heart was always so big, and patients and friends alike all reaped the benefits of her compassion.
Tina loved all things beautiful. She was constantly in search of the perfect decorations for her house and car and foliage for her yard, which was her haven. She loved decorating for friends as well. Her family and friends who really got to know her have been so blessed to feel the effects of her big, loyal, feisty, tender heart. We were all surprised at how quickly she left, and are grateful that we were able to spend personal time with her before she entered into the eternal realm.
Tina was dedicated to doing everything in her power to make her family (and others) feel loved and special, and she was great at it! Scrimping to save for trips, changing decorations for every little holiday, making special meals, creating traditions - anything to create a sense of being seen, special, and loved was always her intention with her family, extended family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. She had a special love for the “little guy” or the overlooked and would do her best to help them feel seen.
Going through cancer highlighted what was important spiritually. Finding new appreciation for everything genuine, profound, and meaningful was her hobby. She loved the honesty and feistiness of authors like Kate Bowler. She wanted to face things without blinking or platitudes or pretending. “Real answers only, please.” In her illness it was sometimes harsh, uncomfortable, and jarring. She wanted to face all the pain genuinely, and to feel the pain of it together so she knew you were with her and she was with you. In that way, she was absolutely fearless.
Tina is survived by her parents, John and Linda Hulse, her brother, Jesse Hulse and his wife Jennifer Ellen Adamson; her husband, Rob Chidester, and children Beth, Meg (Margaret) and her husband Cliff Rossberg, Hayden, and Max (Maxwell). She also leaves behind her precious granddaughter, Marcy (4), who was the light of her life. Her sister-friends also deserve an honorable mention here. She was preceded in death by her son, Benjamin, her grandfather Jim Knight, grandmother Beth Knight, and various other aunts and cousins, and an uncle.
A viewing for those wishing to pay their respects will be held on Thursday, July 28 from 8:00 - 10:00 am at Hearthside Event Center 5612 E 2200 N in Eden. A private graveside service will be held that day at the Meadow View Cemetery in Eden.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that donations be made to either Huntsman Cancer Institute or to the memorial fund being set up in Tina’s name through America First Credit Union. More details of this fund will be available on the CaringBridge website: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tinachidester
Tina: Your heart, love, and compassion has touched us deeply! You will be sorely missed! We invite you to visit us often in our hearts and minds until we can kiss your face again.
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