Meredith Walker Christiansen's Obituary
On Friday, November 14th 2014 we lost our mom, our momma, our gramma Meredith (Marty) Walker Christiansen to the long sleep of death. Marty was born on September 15th 1943 to Calvin and Delores Barnum Walker in Salt Lake City Utah. Marty had three siblings, Mary Elizabeth (Liz), Calvin (Butch), and her sister Michael who also has fallen asleep in death in 2007.
There's so much that we could say about momma, but in the true character of our beloved mother she also had a few things to say about herself... Here is her own obituary in her own words...
"Mom loved to do things with her grandkids. They were what kept her going in the last few years. Disneyland was a favorite destination for them. She liked puzzles, games, playing cards and dominoes. She married Don Christiansen in July of 1973 and moved to Utah the following year.
Thanks to Theresa for taking such good care of her mom. Her husband Don was a great care giver and never complained. She worked at Martin Door Mfg for 20 years and had lots of friends there."
That's probably the most momma would ever say about herself. Her words about herself say so much about who she was in ways that words can not describe. Her words were short, sweet, and to the point, just like she was. Momma never once thought of herself first, she was the most unselfish and generous person you could ever know. She always gave everything she had and then some, especially to her kids and her grandkids. She never wanted nor asked for anything for herself except one thing. All she ever wanted was to spend time with the people she loved, and that she did up until the very moment she finally fell asleep.
Momma was definitely understating the fact that "Disneyland was a favorite destination". Momma loved going to Disneyland oh so much, but she didn't love going for herself. Momma loved going with her kids and grandkids. She would do anything she could do to take them, and even though she was physically unable to go the last few years she always asked that we try to go for her.
If there's one quality to describe our momma and gramma it was absolute unselfish and unconditional love. The bible calls this kind of love Agape love and momma was the personification of that kind of love. No matter if or how anyone in her life may have let her down, she never let go of that love for all of her family and her friends. Momma may have been a spitfire at times, showing her frustration or causing frustration by her stubbornness. But you would never have a doubt in your mind that momma, mom, gramma, "gramma gramma" or whoever she was to you, loved you.
Momma had so many in her life that she loved. She loved dad so very much... Sure they may have bickered from time to time, usually over dad trying to get her to eat something she didn't wanna eat. But it was not uncommon to see mom and dad holding hands. Even in some of mommas last few days, you could easily catch her and dad holding hands as they watch a movie together. Momma loved you dad, no matter what happened in your 40 plus years together you were the love of her life.
Momma loved her kids and her grandkids more than can be put into words. And momma had a lot of kids and grandkids. She had four kids of her own... Theresa, who mom described as "the rock", the one who momma trusted would care for the family as she did. Tami, who is so much like mom that they often butted heads, like identical magnets that wanted to push each other away. Chris, her first son and mommas best friend. Chris and momma were like two peas in a pod, sharing almost every love in life. And finally Caleb, mommas baby. Caleb was mommas baby, and often got away with things that none of the rest of the kids would have. Momma had two step children, Heidi and Ceven who were grown when mom and dad married. But no matter what, and even though she didn't show it in the same way, momma loved them both the same.
In the later years, the loves of mommas life and what always brought a smile to her face were her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jacob, Calvin (James), Robbyn, Richard (Ricky), and Samantha were as much her kids as they were her grandkids. Gramma loved them and helped raise them as though they were her own kids. Gramma was always there for all of her grandkids whenever they needed her most, and was always ready to offer love, advice, or anything she could give to help take their problems away.
Mommas love was so unconditional and limitless that it didn't just stop with her blood. Momma was momma (or gramma) to so many others that came into her life. Sasha and her family, Cynthia and her family, Danny, Tristan, all of the Davidsons and Maxwells, Keith and Betty Hill, Rose and Mitch and so so many more. To name them all would fill a book, and yet it seems that momma always had room in her heart for more... That's just "how mom do", and how mom loved. And to all of them, she wasn't "Meredith" or "Marty"... She was Mom.
Losing our momma, our gramma, our sister, our daughter, and wife has left a hole in our hearts that will never be filled. But who momma was, and who she taught us to be, will never leave our hearts. Momma is a part of us all now, and no matter how much time passes none of us will ever doubt the love that she had for us.
Until we see you again momma, we will miss you and we will all, everyone of us reflect the love you taught us so well.
There will be a brief service held for our mom on Saturday December 6th 2014 at the following location. For all who would like to come and remember momma and gramma together, you are invited.
South Jordan Community Center 10778 S. Redwood Rd. South Jordan UT. 84098 Service will begin at 7:00 PM
What’s your fondest memory of Meredith?
What’s a lesson you learned from Meredith?
Share a story where Meredith's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Meredith you’ll never forget.
How did Meredith make you smile?