Christena Huggins

Rosary/Wake service will begin at 6 pm followed by Visitation from 6:30 - 8 pm at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 16000 W. 143rd St, Olathe, KS on Friday December 28th. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday December 29, at 10 am at Prince of Peace Catholic Church with burial following in Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Olathe KS.

Chris was born on August 22, 1928. She graduated from Olathe High School and continued on to receive a BSE from Emporia State University.

Chris was married to Richard Huggins on November 10th 1951.

Chris worked as a Biologist in a lab at KU Medical Center until she began her career of homemaker and caregiver for eight children. During her years as a homemaker she was involved in all aspects of her children’s lives including cheerleader at sporting events, room mother at St Paul`s Catholic School for a record number of years, 4-H project leader, homework assistant for countless hours every evening, to instilling the value of being charitable on a daily basis.

As her children began their independent lives Chris became increasingly involved in multiple charitable organizations. She was awarded the Symbols of Care Giving award in 1996. Her volunteer work only increased following this award including answering the phone at Catholic Charities, various work at Prince of Peace Parish, furnishing food for three different food pantries, and her most favored project at the Salvation Army Auxillary - providing Layettes to mothers of newborns.

Christena is survived by her sister Rosemary Lowe; 6 daughters, Mary Kay (Mike) Whitacre, Jennifer Huggins, MD, Penny (Mark) Sherwin, Anita (Dan) Pierson, Theresa (Jeff) Chalibi, Amy (Will) Wabaunsee and son, Neal Huggins; 10 grandchildren, Michelle, Micah, Breanna, Macy, Rachel, Christian, Byron, Olivia, Rebecca, and Wilburn; as well as 1great granddaughter, Audryanna.

Christena is preceded in death by her husband, Richard and her daughter, Frances.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be sent in memory of Christena T. Huggins to the KU Cancer Center for Lymphoma Research, c/o KU Endowment Association 3901 Rainbow Blvd. Mailstop 3012 Kansas City, KS 66160 or Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas-Olathe EAC, 9720 West 87th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212