1973
Kristi
2011
Kristi Kathryn Walker
August 26, 1973 — July 31, 2011
Kristi Kathryn Walker, age 37, passed from her home in Chicago on July 31, 2011 to her eternal home with God. Kristi was born August 26, 1973, in Warren, Ohio, a daughter of Sally Walker of Boardman, Ohio, and Jim Walker of Poland, Ohio. She was a 1991 graduate of Poland Seminary High School and a 1995 graduate of Haverford College.
She also leaves behind her brother, Scott Walker and his wife Tricia of Arlington, MA, and their son, her wonderful nephew, James. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Russ and Harriett Arnold and Ken and Jean Walker.
Kristi grew up in Poland, Ohio, and was a member of Poland Presbyterian Church where she played the piano. She joined Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago in 1997 and served there as a deacon for three years. She was active in the Elam Davies Social Service Center (Sunday night suppers, CROP Walk, Hunger Walk) and was a current member of the 30s-40s group.
She spent part of every summer at Chautauqua, New York, where her grandmother owned a summer home. While at Chautauqua, she learned to sail, loved going to the opera, enjoyed music, and worshiped Sundays in the outdoor amphitheater. Kristi loved children and worked at Children's School some summers during high school and college.
Kristi traveled in the USA and Europe during 1996 and 1997 while playing the keyboard with the cast of Up With People. She worked as a national event coordinator for Ernst & Young LLP (now Capgemini) for two years and then studied for a year at the University of Rhode Island before returning to Chicago in 2001 to obtain a clinical doctorate in physical therapy (DPT) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
September 10, 2001 she was told that she had a brain tumor. After leaving the hospital, she continued her studies in physical therapy and earned her DPT in May 2006. She worked as a physical therapist after graduation at several hospitals and senior living facilities in Chicago. On November 30, 2010, her neuro-oncologist told her that her tumor had returned and was much more aggressive. Kristi was determined to again win a battle against her tumor but the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) was too aggressive. She was able to participate in this year's American Brain Tumor Association Path to Progress Walk on May 14th in Chicago. Her team, Loving Life, and she, as an individual, both raised the third highest amount for the ABTA.
Another one of Kristi's passions was sailing. She was an active member of the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program in which she raced competitively in a 2.4mR boat in Chicago, Florida, and Connecticut.
Kristi loved life and urged everyone to live each day to the fullest. She often listened to the music of David Bailey, a fourteen-year survivor of a GBM. His lyrics of hope encouraged her and many others throughout their battles with illness or adversity. She believed that today is a gift and what is most important is how she lived her "dash".
There will be two memorial services to celebrate her life. The service at Poland Presbyterian Church, 2 Poland Manor, Poland, Ohio 44514 will be held on Saturday, August 13th, at 1 p.m. with visitation with her family at noon in the church parlor and after the service in Fellowship Hall. The service at Fourth Presbyterian Church, North Michigan Avenue at Delaware Place, Chicago, Illinois 60611, will be held on Saturday, September 10th, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following, in Kristi's name: NorthShore University NeuroOncology Research Program, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60201 or Chautauqua Foundation, (Children's School in memo line), P.O. Box 28, Chautauqua, New York 14722. Please note that any donation is in memory of Kristi Walker.
She also leaves behind her brother, Scott Walker and his wife Tricia of Arlington, MA, and their son, her wonderful nephew, James. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Russ and Harriett Arnold and Ken and Jean Walker.
Kristi grew up in Poland, Ohio, and was a member of Poland Presbyterian Church where she played the piano. She joined Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago in 1997 and served there as a deacon for three years. She was active in the Elam Davies Social Service Center (Sunday night suppers, CROP Walk, Hunger Walk) and was a current member of the 30s-40s group.
She spent part of every summer at Chautauqua, New York, where her grandmother owned a summer home. While at Chautauqua, she learned to sail, loved going to the opera, enjoyed music, and worshiped Sundays in the outdoor amphitheater. Kristi loved children and worked at Children's School some summers during high school and college.
Kristi traveled in the USA and Europe during 1996 and 1997 while playing the keyboard with the cast of Up With People. She worked as a national event coordinator for Ernst & Young LLP (now Capgemini) for two years and then studied for a year at the University of Rhode Island before returning to Chicago in 2001 to obtain a clinical doctorate in physical therapy (DPT) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
September 10, 2001 she was told that she had a brain tumor. After leaving the hospital, she continued her studies in physical therapy and earned her DPT in May 2006. She worked as a physical therapist after graduation at several hospitals and senior living facilities in Chicago. On November 30, 2010, her neuro-oncologist told her that her tumor had returned and was much more aggressive. Kristi was determined to again win a battle against her tumor but the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) was too aggressive. She was able to participate in this year's American Brain Tumor Association Path to Progress Walk on May 14th in Chicago. Her team, Loving Life, and she, as an individual, both raised the third highest amount for the ABTA.
Another one of Kristi's passions was sailing. She was an active member of the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program in which she raced competitively in a 2.4mR boat in Chicago, Florida, and Connecticut.
Kristi loved life and urged everyone to live each day to the fullest. She often listened to the music of David Bailey, a fourteen-year survivor of a GBM. His lyrics of hope encouraged her and many others throughout their battles with illness or adversity. She believed that today is a gift and what is most important is how she lived her "dash".
There will be two memorial services to celebrate her life. The service at Poland Presbyterian Church, 2 Poland Manor, Poland, Ohio 44514 will be held on Saturday, August 13th, at 1 p.m. with visitation with her family at noon in the church parlor and after the service in Fellowship Hall. The service at Fourth Presbyterian Church, North Michigan Avenue at Delaware Place, Chicago, Illinois 60611, will be held on Saturday, September 10th, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following, in Kristi's name: NorthShore University NeuroOncology Research Program, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60201 or Chautauqua Foundation, (Children's School in memo line), P.O. Box 28, Chautauqua, New York 14722. Please note that any donation is in memory of Kristi Walker.
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