Christy Pells passed into the kingdom of heaven, to the room that Jesus has prepared for her in His Father’s house a little after midnight on May 9 after what seems a whirlwind battle with cancer that began in February, 2012 … She was 56.

Born in 1955, Christina Anne Williams to Ralph B Williams and Marjorie (Stalker) Williams in Poughkeepsie New York. She is a U.S. Marine Corps wife who raised our son and managed our household alone all too often as my duties took me away – including to both the exotic Cuba and the land of the morning calm, Korea.

Though she studied nursing and became an LPN, she spent her life chasing me, her Marine husband, around the world including honeymooning in Cyprus; our first anniversary in Monterey, Calif.; giving us William (our Sasquatch and much beloved son) in Scotland and, of course, a little time on the beaches of Hawaii before we settled in northern California, first in the Napa Valley and then Clearlake.

Professionally, she turned to serving others through the banking and financial industry – ultimately building and running her own book keeping service for a time before devoting herself full time to her passion for helping others through her advocacy work, dog and horse adoption and a huge heart that rarely accepted no for an answer.

Personally, her proudest accomplishments – which always brought the most joy to her days and the biggest smiles to her face – is really all about two people: her baby boy Willy – who stood tall and ignored his own pain to help me get through this from day one; and his daughter, Christy’s oh-so-precious grand-baby, Sydney – to whom Christy is “Nana,” as she was too young to be grandma – and who displayed grace and courage far beyond her 10 years, helping tend to her fading Nana and giving her Papa many spontaneous hugs when I need them the most.

Both, like her husband – Garry – already miss her profoundly … like the air we breath and the water we drink …

She is also loved and missed by her sister Diana,  who arrived in time to see her off and remained to help me through the toughest days; as well as her mom, her Aunt Kay and Cousin Lance, who drove from Reno and joined us at Christy’s side; her Aunt Bet and Uncle Richard and many more.

And my family, especially my sister Patti whose help at Christy’s bedside was immeasurable when Christy and I needed her the most … and continues today as well as my Aunt Jo whose wise counsel, love and support has meant more to me than she knows.

Christy is also loved and missed by her non-traditional family that includes:

“Will’s boys” – our son’s many friends who, from their teen years to today, always knew she’d make sure they were very well fed and taken care of – and sometimes even before she’d get on them about this and that, keeping them on the straight path, at least as she saw it; Brian and Andy from the past, Steve and Skyler today.

Our dear friend Carl, in whom Christy’s passion for tide pools, hummingbirds and advocacy blossomed.

Her many Clearlake friends including Sue and Rusty and Tammy.

And, of course, her adopted golden boy, Roscoe; her baby girl, Jazzie; her cats, Layla and Garfield; and her beloved horses, Jewel, Rebel and O’Teaka. All were adopted, most with special needs and each and every one finding a special place in Christy’s heart.

Her love and passion was always for helping others; her plate always overflowing with errands and tasks, mostly for others and, only when and if she had time, for herself.  We could depend on her to be late for everything because she never had enough time to complete her days work for others – though that would not deter her from adding one more thing for someone else as the need arose.

Only through the grace of a loving and merciful God and with the blessing of very special friends, our son Will and I saw her from the hospital to her home where she spent her last hours – away from the tubes and needles and pain and into the embrace of her family and friends, many of her beloved pets and a loving God.

She slipped peacefully away, made her last inspection tour of the house and joined her dad, Uncle Thomas and friend Bobby in heaven.

God is good, all the time, no matter what.

Very special thanks to fellow Marines Chris (w/out whom I don’t know what I would have done) and Kevin (there when I needed an ear… or a shoulder…) I love you both.

As per her wishes, we are planning a celebration of Christy’s life in an informal gathering on the southeast shore of Clearlake in Austin Park at 7 p.m. Friday, May 11.

Final arrangements are pending confirmation though she’ll be pissed if they do NOT include good food and much laughter.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Kelseyville Fire Department in Kelseyville, Calif., or to your local fire department or to support cancer research. I got the feeling that what was so special to me was part of Kelseyville Fire Department’s normal tour of duty – and probably is for yours as well.