April Christensen

APRIL CHRISTENSEN Click here to view video of April's life IDAHO FALLS, ID -- April Dawn Christensen, 25, of Idaho Falls, died July 8, 2009 at the home of her parents in Idaho Falls. She was born April 16, 1985, in Idaho Falls, to Roger Stephen Christensen and Melva Jane “Janie” Shenton Christensen. She graduated from Idaho Falls High School and attended EITC where she received her CNA. She dreamed of a profession in the medical field. Her time job-shadowing with the paramedics and Idaho Falls Fire Department was one of the happiest times of her life. She also had a special love for the elderly and loved to volunteer with them. On January 4, 2003, she married Thomas Gregory Allen. They later divorced. They continued to share the responsibility of raising their two children, Ashlyn Nichole and Easton Thomas. April always appreciated how much Thomas loved and cared for their children. She loved her kids and her cats. April struggled with many health issues related to her having Cystic Fibrosis. More than anything, she wanted to be a mom and was willing to sacrifice her health to bring her two precious children into this world. They were the loves of her life. April is survived by: Daughter: Ashlyn Nichole Allen Son: Easton Thomas Allen Parents: Roger and Janie Christensen Brother: Shaun Christensen Sisters: Ali and Christina Christensen, all of Idaho Falls, ID Grandmothers: Carol Shenton of Dubois and Belva Christensen of Idaho Falls. She was preceded in death by her grandfathers Don Shenton and Dennis Christensen. Funeral Services for April will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 13, 2009 at the Idaho Falls LDS Shamrock Park Ward, 3195 S. Holmes, with Bishop Howard Harper officiating. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Avenue, and Monday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Ammon Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers an education account for her children has been set up in the name of Ashlyn and Easton Allen at the Bank of Commerce. ---------------------------------------------------- Condolences received online: Keith and Allyson Walker keithtwalker@gmail.com Roger and Janie, We are so sorry to hear of April's passing. We are so sad for you and we want to extend any help that we can to your family. You have always been soooo good to our family. April will be missed by everyone. She always had such a beautiful smile and brightened up every room that she entered. Please accept our heartfelt condolences. We love your family and will be praying for your comfort. Love, Keith and Allyson Walker and family Mark & Cheryl Matthiesen camatthi@gmail.com Roger and Janie, Words can't express how sorry I feel for you both and the rest of the family over the loss of your daughter. You are in our thoughts and prayers.God Bless You!! Kim Rowberry (Tate) hokukim@q.com I am sorry for the sudden loss of April. I went to school with her from elementary to high school. She is one of the sweetest people I know. I could tell just by the times I've ran into her and her kids, how much she loved them. I'm so sorry. I hope you can find comfort in this difficult time. My prayers are with you and her two children. My heart breaks for them. Kim Rowberry (Tate), Idaho Falls, ID Bobbie Mauch bmauch@ci.power.id.us My heart is hurting knowing the terrible loss you are facing losing your beautiful daughter. May God be with you and your family and may He give you the strength you will need for these days ahead. David Strobel daves@ida.net We always loved having April in our home. She had a big heart and was always so nice. She will be missed by myself and my children. Gayle and Jack Bachtell camastreasurer@rtci.net Roger and Janie, We were so sorry to hear about April. Words cannot express our hearfelt sympathy for your loss. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We know your faith will sustain you and God will take good care of April. Lori & Will Beck lbecktax@gmail.com Roger & Janie, I was saddened to hear of your daughter's passing. Our hearts go out to you and your family along with her children. Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this time. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. John and Joan Buck potterchapel@qwest.net Our thoughts are with you. I know this is not an easy time, and I also know that your faith will help you so much. She will always be with you, and so just hold her close to your heart. John and Joan Buck Amanda Kostelecky (Krell) AmandaKrell@hotmail.com My condolences to the entire Christensen family. I was so sad to hear about April. I have so many great memories of her from my childhood and am so sorry for your loss. April touched a lot of hearts and will be missed. Doug and Diane Johnson djohnson@wgu.edu We are so sorry for your loss. April was in Doug's primary class years ago. Her cheery smile will be missed. Your family has always been a wonderful influence for good for so many people, our family included. May you be blessed with peace and comfort during this most difficult time. With warm regards, Doug and Diane Johnson Ashlee Grimmett-Stoddard I am so sorry to hear about April's passing. I have known April for years. We attended some of elementary and high school together. She was one of the most sweetest people I knew. She had a smile that would lighten up any room. I had the chance to see her a few times after graduation and I loved seeing her with her beautiful kids. She loved being a Mom and it showed to the world. My prayers are with you and her children. Robin Jergins rkrj10@msn.com We are so sorry to learn of your dear daughter's passing. What a heartache it is to lose a child. No one can ever know the true loss and pain that a parent feels until they lose one of their own. (We lost our son almost 8 years ago; he would be 23 years old now). Please know that we share your sorrow and heartache and are just so sorry you are having to go through this. I hope you can find some peace and comfort in the knowledge that she still lives; and that one day will have the divine opportunity to be reunited once more. Please take care and know our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Alicia Blain (Abrashoff) lish503@hotmail.com My prayers go out to the entire Christensen family. I am so sad to hear of your loss. April was such a beautiful person who lit up a room with just her smile. She was an awesome friend to me and to so many and will be greatly missed! My mother also had the great joy of taking care of her daughter in the nursery at EIRMC and sends her condolences as well. My thoughts and prayers go out to you during this difficult time. Rebecca Casper rcasper@byu.net I wish to express my sadness and sorrow for your loss. This is heartbreaking. In times like these, faith is what sustains us. I hope you find comfort in your memories of happy times and in the prospect of your grandchildren growing up as living reminders of her very best qualities. Your family is in our prayers. Stacy McMurtrey April was so important to me and such an amazing person. I learned so much from her. She was like another sister. I’m so sorry for the loss of such an incredible spirit. Amy (Collette) Warburton amyco_volleyball@hotmail.com Janie, Roger, and family, I am so sorry to hear about April. I have so many fond memories with her. She was such a special woman and I will treasure the memories I have with her. You and her kids will be in my prayers. I pray that you will find comfort and peace during this hard time. Sincerely, Amy Collette Warburton Michele Sherrer Roger & Janie ~ I was so sorry to hear of April's passing. I know mere words cannot describe the loss you are experiencing, but know you are deeply loved by so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the rest of your family. Take care & much love ~ Michele, Jacob & Noah Steve Carr Roger and Janie, I a so sorry for your loss. May your happy memories and strength of family sustain and comfort you. We are thinking of you. Steve and Cindy Carr Greg Horsman greg.horsman@horsmansolutions.com Roger and Janie, you don’t know me nor I you. I met AlexaRae online through MySpace recently and quickly became a fan of your family and of the incredible strength you all have for each other. When I heard of April’s death, my heart was immediately filled with sorrow for the two of you and for her three siblings. I know the challenges cystic fibrosis brings to a family and the financial burden it brings along with it. After all you’ve done to try to ensure the children stayed healthy only to receive this as the reward hardly seems fair. But God’s plan isn’t meant for us to understand right now. Only He knows what He has in store for April. Let your faith in Him carry you through this most sorrowful time. There is no pain like the pain you are feeling right now and the pain you will have in the coming days and weeks. Your friends will try to comfort you, but only God will carry your pain for you, if you let Him. My daughter, Amber, died earlier this year on January 21, 2009. She had CF, too. I haven’t made it through all the grieving yet myself, but each day heals a little more. Amber was 27. On her MySpace page she wrote the following quote, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.” No one understands the limited number of breaths a person has like a child with CF. I’m sure April took your breath away many times over the years. Hold on to those memories, for they will bring you joy for all eternity. I pray for your strength, the strength of your children and her children. In Christian love, Greg Horsman, Lexington, KY Davide Della Morte davidedellamorte@yahoo.it Christensen dear family, even though we are far, we are neighbors with a strong hug to all of you in great sorrow for the loss of your beloved April. Davide D.M. and all the friends and Italian artists Whitney and Lane Blake You are in our thoughts and prayers. April was truly an amazing woman and we both feel blessed to have known her. David and Linda Jensen We send our love and prayers to your family at this time of great sorrow. May the special memories of April always lift your spirits and give you peace and joy. April is a very choice daughter of Heavenly Father. Zola Jensen Dear Christensen Family; I am so sorry to hear of April's death. I hope you can all rely and depend on each other to get you through this difficult time. I am sure you will all be able to reflect on better, happier times and that will bring some peace. Please know if you ever need anything I would be happy to help. Ali, I love and miss your spark and great sense of humor. I am always here on 19th st. if you ever need to talk. Ruby Sharp My deepest sympathy for the tragic loss of your daughter. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sorrow. Sincerely, Ruby Sharp Laird & Diane Bean beanboys4@cableone.net Roger & Janie, I cannot express the sadness you must have for the early loss of April. She is a beautiful daughter. I never knew her but I'm sure her life is a true reflection of the principles and values shared by her parents. It is with deepest sympathy that we send our condolences. Bryan Collette bryan.j.collette@us.pwc.com To the Christensen family, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Just wanted to let you know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Bryan Collette Meghan Dianne Leach princetongirl_1989@yahoo.com I never knew April, but she was my mom's cousins cousin. I am so very sorry about your loss. My prayers go to her husband and children and her family. She will be greatly missed by everyone. April Christensen Roger & Janie, we were so sadded to hear about April. Our prayers are with you at this trying time. Your faith will get you through the heartache. We have loved watching her grow. With our love, Brad & Annette Deidra Silvester sdsilvester@cableone.net April was truly an amazing woman who will never be forgotten. Her sweet personality and smile will be greatly missed. May my prayers and thoughts be with you and her children at this time of sorrow. She is an angel whose memory will always be in our hearts. Dewey and Linda Smuin dlsmuin@mudlake.net Linda was reading the paper tonight and saw that your daughter April had passed on. We are very sorry. We have kind of kept up with your family through bumping into Gary and Greg over time. We didn't know her, but remember Don and Carol bringing her camping at Birch Creek. From what we have heard she was a remarkable young lady and had a lot of love to share and did all she could in this life. When you do that Heavenly Father takes care of the rest. You both have great families and at this time you are in our thoughts and prayers. May the Lord and comforter be with you. Dewey and Linda Smuin Marlene Brinkerhoff marlene.brinkerhoff@eitc.edu I was April's CNA instructor at EITC. She was such a fun girl to be around. With her around there was never a dull moment. I am so very sorry for your loss. Rose and Ed Plympton rplympton@elmorecounty.org Dear Roger and Janie, Words cannot express what is one's heart at times like these. We are praying for God's strength, peace and most of all comfort for all of your family. May God hold you close and give you hope for the days to come. With deepest sympathy, Rose and Ed Plympton Glenda Poston gposton@boundarycountyid.org So sorry for the loss of your daughter, April, may the concern of those who care for you and your family help you through this difficult time. Brion and Glenda Poston Patty J Smith aspenpeak498@yahoo.com Roger - Janie and family, Tom, Ashlyn and Easton, My heart is sad, but my faith is storong. The right words are so hard to find for the loss of your beautiful daughter, mom and sister. We know that she served her Father in Heaven and progressed as far as she could on this earth and now as she returns home to him she waits to be with all of you again one day. She is free from the pains that the disease had taken on her body. She was so blessed to have a Mother and Father that supported her and loved her so much. Roger and Janie, may you find the comforts and peach that you need at this time. Ashlyn and Easton, your Mommy loved you so much and your Daddy will love you with all his heart and might and soul and will take very good care of you. Tom, I know that you will be blessed with all that you need to be that wonderful Father that you already are. My sincere thoughts and prayers are with you. Patty J Smith Mary Ann Heiser I am so sorry for your invaluable loss. May God walk with you during this hard time. Susan R. Petersen Roger, my heart and prayers are with you and your family at this time. I did not personally know your daughter, but having an association with you, and always appreicating you as an associate and as a friend, your daughter must have been a very beautiful and special person. Susan Radene and Tarry Barker radeneb@bannockcounty.us We are so sorry to hear about your daughters passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family. We know that this is a hard time for you. Please remember that your Heavenly Father loves you and will bless you. Keep those memories of April close to your heart and this will help in your healing. How blessed you are to have those wonderful grandchildren to remind them of their mother and how much she loved and treasured them. Radene and Tarry Barker Sara Staub sstaub@co.bingham.id.us Roger: My heartfelt condolences to you and your family at the loss of your beloved daughter. I watched the video of her life and could tell that she was a beautiful young woman. May all your happy memories of her be a comfort in the days to come. Mimi Garcia adriana.garcia@my.eitc.edu Christensens', I had the pleasure of knowing your daughter April when we worked together at Sol Rio. She was a very sweet and warm, caring person, and would do anything for her children. I remember when Ashlyn would not leave the house unless she was dressed like a princess, and April never had a problem with that, even in winter. She helped our friend Steve when he was in a car accident, she was an angel. I am truly sorry for your loss, you are all in my prayers, Mimi Garcia Tod Shenton Dear Roger and Janie; We are so sorry for your loss. I cannot describe with words how bad we feel for you and your family. I have an older friend in Utah who lost his son, and in his bereavement I remember him telling me with tears in his eyes that parents are not supposed to have to bury their children. Please accept our deepest sympathy from the whole family. Tom & Lori Lenderink tlenderink@co.bonneville.id.us Roger & Janie, No matter how often one experiences the death of a loved one, or anticipates the death of a loved one, I'm not sure one can ever be prepared for the loss of a child, no matter what the age. Our hearts and our prayers go out to you and your family at this painful time in your lives. We hope for peace and comfort that only God can give through answered prayers and the love of family and friends. Sincerely, Tom, Lori & family Kay Sill kksill@mudlake.net Dear Janie and Roger, Seeing some of you over the 4th of July was so special to us, but hearing about the loss of your beautiful daughter April seems so unreal, and sudden, the Good Lord must have plans for her in heaven. We think that she was one of Ernie’s nurses, during his last trip to the hospital. Seeing her picture, we both thought she looked so familiar. She was so kind, thoughtful and loving. We just wished that we’d known she was your daughter. Our love and prayers go out to your family, and her children, they’re so blessed to have loving grandparents like you. Janie, we’ve always had a special place in our hearts for you, just wish we could help you in your time of sorrow. You’ll have so many beautiful memories of her, this, and your faith, with give you the strength to help her children. Our love to you all, Kay and Ernie Sill Melissa Jolley & Family melissa_brynn68@yahoo.com Roger, Janie, Shaun, Ali & Christina: I can go back through years of memories with your family. I remember laughing until we cried. I remember April's constant craving for a soda. I remember SOS performance after performance with April in the crowd with Easton and Ashlyn by her side eager to cheer Ali on. I have never seen siblings have more love and pure need for each other. Shaun is one of our closest friends and we know how much concern and love he had for April. Timmery & Sheldon loved and cared for April so much through all situations. We will always stand behind your family through any situation because we know for a fact you would all do the same for us. We love you all and support you forever. Danette Frederiksen danikilgore@yahoo.com Dearest Janie, Roger & family: Wow. What news I just heard. April has passed on. I'm so sad for all of you. I wish I could've been at the funeral events. Please know that I am with you in prayer, you are always in my heart and fondest memories. May you all remember the fun and fulfilling times with April. She truly was one of a kind and will be missed. I love you all and pray that you find comfort from one another, from those of us who love you, and from our loving, caring God. I hope to see you and make more memories with you very soon. Lots of Love always, Danette Kevin and Brooke Scholz kevin@scholz-arch.com We were so sorry to hear of your daughter's passing. We extend our sympahties to you and your family at this time of sorrow. Daron Bean dbean@bosselmanmail.com It's hard to know what to say at times like this, but I'm thinking of you with freindship and support. I hope it helps to let you know that friends are thinking of you and remembering you in their prayers. Sincerely, Daron Teri Gottlob rgandtg@msn.com I was so sorry to hear about April's death. I know this must be a difficult time for you. Please remember that she has gone on to a better place and is watching over each and every one of you. Please keep her in your hearts and strive to always do your best. You are in my hearts and prayers!