Mary Christine Holmes was born to Margaret Walling and Arthur Allen on May 18, 1947 in San Francisco, CA. Over the years she went by many names - Christy, Nana, Mom, Nurse Chris - but most just knew her as Chris. 

At three years old, Chris decided she was going to become a nurse and she never strayed from that goal. She began working at a local doctor's office in St. Helena at the age of 18. She learned nursing through experience and mentorship and did not receive her nursing degree until well into adulthood. She became a source of comfort and care for many St. Helena families working alongside her longtime friend Dr. Barry Brown, and multiple generations can claim that "Nurse Chris" gave their first shots. In 2001, Chris decided to take a position with Adventist Health St. Helena working first on the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) and ultimately retiring as a charge nurse on the Med-Surge Unit. Chris made many friends and touched countless lives with her steadfast care, compassionate heart and gentle manner. Her nursing skills were so admired, Chris was bestowed with the second ever DAISY award for Extraordinary Nurses at AHSH: an honor which meant more to her than any other achievement in her life.

Nursing may have been Chris' calling, but her most ardent dream was to be a mother. Chris worked tirelessly to care for her beloved children and opened her home to all. Many fondly referred to her as "Chris Mom" through the years. Chris never let being a single parent stand in the way of devoting all the time she could to her kids. Many memories were made through countless trips, camping adventures, and extracurricular activities. Later in life, Chris continued to enjoy adult friendships with her children and loved attending games, dance recitals, and spending holidays with her beautiful grandchildren.

Living life to the fullest was Chris' only wish. Quality over quantity was all she ever asked for, and she achieved that every day until her last. Chris was an adventurer, a cowgirl, a rebel, a wino, a comedian, a caretaker, a mother, a grandmother... she was kind, generous, encouraging, witty, thoughtful, patient, nurturing, kind-hearted, independent, empathetic and charismatic. More than anything she was loved beyond measure and will be missed by the countless people whose lives she touched.

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