Kristina Lawless

Kristina Lawless was a positive, caring person, with a loving heart and a ready smile. She was the kind of person that would spend all day making applesauce and raisin pie for her family, even though she didn’t like the food herself. She was a Christian lady, devoted to her Lord, her family and her friends.

Born on November 10, 1960 in Joliet, Illinois to Glenn and Karen Ruthenbeck, Kris was the youngest of three daughters. The 1960’s were a tumultuous time with old ways and traditions giving way to new ways of doing things. In the Ruthenbeck family, however, old traditions were being upheld. Glenn and Karen worked hard to raise Kris, along with her older sisters, Kathy and Kim on the family farm in New Lenox, Illinois. There are always chores to do on a farm and all three girls were expected to help out. When Kris wasn’t helping out on the farm or attending school, she could be found playing with her siblings and friends. While attending Lincoln Way High School, Kris worked in the guidance office, earning enough money to buy her own car at the age of sixteen.

After graduating from high school, Kris went to work for the Christian Brothers in Romeoville, Illinois on the Lewis University Campus. It was here that she met the love of her life, Mark Lawless. Kris and Mark knew that God had a hand in bringing the two of them together, and on October 23, 1982 they exchanged their vows and were married.

Moving to Kankakee, where Mark was employed, the young couple started their married life. Together, Kris and Mark brought three beautiful children into the world: Megan in January of 1988, Sarah in August of 1990 and Danny in October of 1994. While Mark supported the family, Kris stayed home to care for the children and run the household. Kris loved being a stay at home mom and it was something she excelled at. She also found the time to volunteer in many activities, as well as taking care of the children and her home. When her two daughters became involved in swimming, Kris was the ultimate “Swim Mom”, who not only looked out for her own children, but other children as well. She was a hard worker and good organizer. With her positive attitude and encouraging ways she drew people to her wherever she went. Kris had a way of making things fun and special, whether it was running errands, planning hospitality for a large swim meet or simply having coffee with friends.

When the family began attending the Calvary Church on 8th Street in 1998, Kris began volunteering her time there too. She began working with Calvary Church Youth Ministries and with the Wednesday night Kids Club in particular. In addition she became a Kids Hope USA mentor and mentored many children from Holland Heights Elementary School. She later became the Kids Hope USA Director for the Calvary Church chapter and received the honor of being given the Kids Hope USA Hero Award in its inaugural year of 2009.

Tragedy struck the family when Kris was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in the fall of 2005. Like everything else in Kris’ life she met this challenge head on with dignity, courage and a positive attitude. She was determined to be a model Christian during her three year battle with cancer, and she did it exceptionally well. When Kris went with one of her friends to try on wigs, after the chemotherapy had taken all her hair, she used her sense of humor when trying on the different colored wigs of varying lengths, until she and her friend were speechless with laughter. Only Kris could take a tragic event and turn it into a humorous, memorable occasion.

The week of Thanksgiving in 2007, Kris underwent two surgeries within one week at Mayo Clinic. Those operations were life saving surgeries. Unfortunately the cancer returned in the fall of 2008, but Kris remained upbeat and uncomplaining. Even through the worst of pain, she would light up the room with her smile, inquiring about how others were doing, and encouraging them in their trials.

Kris was a positive, encouraging person who touched everyone she met with her humor and radiant smile. She had a way of making everyone feel special and unique. She was a model Christian; slow to judge and quick to lift up and encourage. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, who loved unconditionally. She will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to know her in the short time she was given.

Kristina Lawless, age 48, of Holland, passed away on Saturday February 14, 2009 in Hospice House of Holland after a courageous three year struggle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Colleen (Lawless) Day of Lake Forest, IL and her father-in-law, Patrick Lawless of Joliet, IL.

She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Mark Lawless of Holland; her three children, Megan, Sarah and Danny; her parents, Glenn and Karen Ruthenbeck of New Lenox, IL; her sisters, Kathy and Mike Mischka of Chicago, IL and Kim and Geoff Greiner of New Lenox, IL; her mother-in-law, Rita Lawless of Joliet, IL and her brother-in-law, Dick Day of Lake Forest, IL; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday February 21, 2009 at Calvary Reformed Church, 995 E 8th Street, Holland, MI.

Visitation will be held on Friday February 20, 2009 from 1-3 and 6-9pm at Calvary Reformed Church, 995 E 8th Street, Holland, MI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Calvary Reformed Church Youth Ministries.

Arrangements by Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Inc., Mulder Chapel, www.lifestorynet.com