Christine Rose (Young) Hawkins

Hawkins (Young), Christine Rose

Age 83 of Halifax, passed away under the compassionate care of Hospice Halifax on October 2, 2020. Christine was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland on July 21, 1937 to Gladys (Smith) and Eugene Young. Though she spent the majority of her life in Nova Scotia, she never forgot her Newfoundland roots. Memories of her grandparents’ farm in Elliott’s Cove, Random Island, and her schooldays at Bishop Spencer College forever held a special place in her heart. Those experiences also cemented her belief that blue jeans were work clothes, not mainstream fashion.

Together with her husband and growing family, she lived for periods of time in Halifax, Montreal and San Diego before returning to Halifax and joining the workforce as a single mother of three. Those who knew Christine can attest to her outgoing personality, often exhibited by her inability to enter any public domain without initiating a conversation. To her, strangers didn’t exist, she just hadn’t met them yet. Throughout her life she developed a fondness for entertaining, travel, decorating, Kahlil Gibran, all things pink, dressing up and shopping for any and all occasions. Her year round passion for buying Christmas presents was unstoppable. She dedicated countless hours writing letters and connecting by phone to maintain friendships old and new, near and far. Christine established many family traditions, with her signature sweet potato marshmallow dish being but one.

The family would like to thank the many friends, spiritual guides and dedicated care providers who extended such kindness to Christine throughout the years and in particular the last several months.

Christine is survived by her children, James, Susan (Rakesh Jain) and John (Louise); grandchildren Lauren Jain (Sanjaya Mendis), Liam Hawkins, Benjamin Jain (Brittany Cameron), Grant Hawkins (Deirdre Campbell) and Ellen Hawkins; brothers Keith (Anne) and Richard (Cathy), along with many dear nieces, nephews and their children. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Derek.

Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, October 8, at 2 p.m. at Grace Chapel, 255 Ross Street, Halifax. Provincial COVID-19 protocols apply. The service may be viewed online at https://gracechapel.ca/special-services. Interment will take place at St. John’s Cemetery, Halifax, at a later date. Messages of remembrance may be sent to https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/ChristineHawkins/ Those wishing to memorialize Christine may kindly consider Hospice Halifax.