Christie Williamson

Christina Marie was born Christmas Day in 1950 to John and Mary Lou Sturm in Mankato Minnesota. She gained a love for culinary arts from spending time as a child baking with her Grandmother Esther. After graduating hIgh school, her caring nature lead her to earn a degree in nursing. Over the years her career led her to many forms of nursing but her favorite time was spent at Boston Children's Hospital working with terminally ill children. Towards the end of her twenty-year nursing career, while caring for the elderly, she was told that she spent too much time caring for her patients and not enough time doing paperwork. During those twenty years Christie had continued her passion for cooking, so she decided to leave her nursing career and concentrate on Culinary Arts. After joining the School Board of Broward County in 1994 as a coordinator for the culinary arts apprenticeship program, she went on to earn a second Bachelor Degree from FIU. From there she began teaching and then took the opportunity to earn her certifications as a Certified Executive Chef as well as a Certified Culinary Educator, through the American Culinary Federation. Even with all of her professional achievements, nothing was more important to Christie than her love of family.

In 1980, she married and later divorced Curt Stainer but not before having three beautiful children, Marta Louise, Nicholas John and Kristopher Curtis (K.C.). She was the most amazing mother! Christie did things with her children that most people don't get to do in their lifetime. She enjoyed introducing her children, and later her grandchildren, to a wide variety of culture. They spent much time together at The Smithsonian Museums, kite flying at the The Jefferson Memorial, enjoying performances at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and learning at the Museum of Science and DIscovery.

Christie met her husband Stephen Williamson; he remembers "It was a Tuesday at 3 o'clock," while teaching for Atlantic Technical Center. From the first day they met, she began teaching him how to be cool. They were married on November 4, 1995 and have been living, laughing and loving for the last sixteen years. Together, they enjoyed traveling and spending good times with her family and friends.

In 2003, Christie became "Mema" to the first of three wonderful and amazing grandbabies. Since that day, her big heart grew to revolve around Isabella Marie, Ashlin Rose and Lila Ariah. Their lives have been forever changed from the time they spent with their Mema.

Christie passed away peacefully at home on the evening of May, 2, 2012. She will be sadly missed by her husband Steve; her children Marta (Jeremiah), Nicholas, K.C. and Josh; her grandbabies Isabella, Ashlin and Lila; her three sisters and best friends, Martha (Steve) Ferrin, Kathy (Jack) Witzke, Mame (Jeff) Brown; as well as many beloved uncles and aunts, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins and friends.

A service will be held at Kraeer Funeral Home at 1655 University Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33071. There will be a viewing from 4-8 p.m. with a service at 6 p.m. The dress for this evening is whatever makes you happy.

Christie made everything perfect and she was the heart of the family. She will be dearly missed.