Chris passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital surrounded by her family and friends on Sunday, June 23, 2019 at the age of 72 years.
Chris was born on Christmas Day 1947 in Surrey, England. She spent much of her childhood in Europe while her father served in the RAF. The family emigrated to Canada in the mid 50’s, living in several places including Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Chris trained as a Registered Nurse at the Regina General Hospital School of Nursing and began her career at the General. She moved on to the University of Palo Alto Hospital in California for a position in the Renal Dialysis Unit. Dialysis became her specialty for the remainder of her career.
Wanderlust struck again and Chris wandered back to Canada to take a position at the University Hospital in London, Ontario. Then it was on to set up a new dialysis ward in Kitchener. At the suggestion of one of the dialysis doctors, she successfully applied for a job setting up a dialysis unit in King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The ward wasn't ready when she arrived, so each day while construction continued, she had to report to what she jokingly referred to as her 'parole officer' - to prove she hadn't wasted her day. Ward completed, her contract was for two years; Chris remains for six years and it was the adventure of a lifetime!
Chris married Peter Lynskey in April 1983, after meeting while both working in Saudi Arabia. They shared a love of travelling and continued to do so for many years. Chris also at this time became a mother to Peter’s 7-year-old daughter Kirstie.
Chris and Peter returned to Canada in 1987 where Chris took a position at Grand River Hospital (then K-W hospital) later becoming the Nurse Educator for the Unit. After many years at Grand River she made the move to Brampton Hospital (William Osler), and then to Oakville (Trafalgar) Hospital where she worked until her retirement.
Chris will be remembered by many as having the ability to see the other side of an issue and playing the devil’s advocate well. She was well known for her sense of humor by all she knew. She was the friend to whom old coworkers would call “How the hell are you?” across a crowded room, followed by hugs and conversations that picked up as if they’d met up yesterday. Chris had a unique ability to make friends out of strangers. She taught every day of her working life. Even at her sickest, her best coping mechanism was to teach.
Her sense of humor stayed with her to the end: when the firefighters and paramedics came to take her for her last ride to hospital, she looked up at the all the men in the group and said, “Well, at least they sent the good-looking ones!” On her ride in the ambulance, she was most annoyed because they didn’t drive with sirens and lights; she felt she deserved that much.
Mom was a strong, determined and fiercely independent woman. We will miss her every day.
Loving mother of Kirstie Inwood and grandmother of James Inwood. Dear best friend of Peter Lynskey, Maureen Arthur, Marg Boyle-Class and Pat Wilken. Sister of David Durkin. She will be fondly remembered by many.
A special thank you to the health care teams at St Mary’s Hospital and London University Hospital.
Cremation has taken place. Messages and condolences may be left at tricitycremations.com or 519.772.1237.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to the Kidney Foundation as expressions of sympathy.
Please visit Chris' obituary notice on Facebook.
Chris was born on Christmas Day 1947 in Surrey, England. She spent much of her childhood in Europe while her father served in the RAF. The family emigrated to Canada in the mid 50’s, living in several places including Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Chris trained as a Registered Nurse at the Regina General Hospital School of Nursing and began her career at the General. She moved on to the University of Palo Alto Hospital in California for a position in the Renal Dialysis Unit. Dialysis became her specialty for the remainder of her career.
Wanderlust struck again and Chris wandered back to Canada to take a position at the University Hospital in London, Ontario. Then it was on to set up a new dialysis ward in Kitchener. At the suggestion of one of the dialysis doctors, she successfully applied for a job setting up a dialysis unit in King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The ward wasn't ready when she arrived, so each day while construction continued, she had to report to what she jokingly referred to as her 'parole officer' - to prove she hadn't wasted her day. Ward completed, her contract was for two years; Chris remains for six years and it was the adventure of a lifetime!
Chris married Peter Lynskey in April 1983, after meeting while both working in Saudi Arabia. They shared a love of travelling and continued to do so for many years. Chris also at this time became a mother to Peter’s 7-year-old daughter Kirstie.
Chris and Peter returned to Canada in 1987 where Chris took a position at Grand River Hospital (then K-W hospital) later becoming the Nurse Educator for the Unit. After many years at Grand River she made the move to Brampton Hospital (William Osler), and then to Oakville (Trafalgar) Hospital where she worked until her retirement.
Chris will be remembered by many as having the ability to see the other side of an issue and playing the devil’s advocate well. She was well known for her sense of humor by all she knew. She was the friend to whom old coworkers would call “How the hell are you?” across a crowded room, followed by hugs and conversations that picked up as if they’d met up yesterday. Chris had a unique ability to make friends out of strangers. She taught every day of her working life. Even at her sickest, her best coping mechanism was to teach.
Her sense of humor stayed with her to the end: when the firefighters and paramedics came to take her for her last ride to hospital, she looked up at the all the men in the group and said, “Well, at least they sent the good-looking ones!” On her ride in the ambulance, she was most annoyed because they didn’t drive with sirens and lights; she felt she deserved that much.
Mom was a strong, determined and fiercely independent woman. We will miss her every day.
Loving mother of Kirstie Inwood and grandmother of James Inwood. Dear best friend of Peter Lynskey, Maureen Arthur, Marg Boyle-Class and Pat Wilken. Sister of David Durkin. She will be fondly remembered by many.
A special thank you to the health care teams at St Mary’s Hospital and London University Hospital.
Cremation has taken place. Messages and condolences may be left at tricitycremations.com or 519.772.1237.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to the Kidney Foundation as expressions of sympathy.
Please visit Chris' obituary notice on Facebook.
