Obituary of Christina Ackford

Ackford, Christina June – Passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on Saturday, February 4th, 2017, following a 15-month struggle with cancer. Chris is the beloved mother of Nancy Cudmore and her husband Roger of Ridgetown, Lisa Okkema and her husband John also of Ridgetown, and Jennifer Ackford of Waterloo. She is grandmother of Gregory Cudmore, Sarah Cudmore, Katharine and husband Rob Jones, their children Spencer and Chloe, Brent and wife Shelbe Watson, Lyndsay Watson and Allison Okkema. She also played a very special role as much loved “Mamoushka” to Mark and Yana Adkinson and their children, Katya, Nicholas and Lexi. Born and raised in Toronto, Chris and her husband Kenneth (d 1992), relocated to Ridgetown in the early 70’s to be closer to her parents Henry and Chris Rogers (nee Monteith). Chris and Ken opened the Saltbox book and stationery store in Ridgetown. Soon however, Chris’s love of tole and decorative painting (folk art) had her opening the store to painting classes and seminars and then to selling art supplies. With the support of Ken, Chris gradually transformed this small retail establishment into a wholesale company, Folk Art Enterprises, supplying art supplies for tole and decorative painters throughout Canadian and international markets. Chris will be remembered by her many painting friends and the ‘Folk Art' crew. In later years she enjoyed learning to sew and quilt with friends at Wildwood trailer park. Chris also was an active member of her church family at Emmanuel Congregational Church. The family is grateful to Chris’s many dear neighbours and friends in the community, at church and in her Bible Study group who supported her through their visits, meals, cards and prayers throughout these past months. Special thanks to the efforts of her palliative care team, PSW’s and especially her nurse, Kayla Thompson who went above and beyond the call of duty to offer excellent, compassionate and loving care. Visitation will be held at the McKinlay Funeral Home on Monday February 6th, 2017 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. Visitation will continue at Emmanuel Congregational Church, Erie St. North on Tuesday February 7th, 2017 at 10:30am until the time of Funeral Service at 11:30am with Rev. Tim Lukings as Officiant. Burial to follow in the Greenwood Cemetery, Ridgetown. Donations in memory of Chris can be made to the T.R.E.E.S., London Regional Cancer Program or the Emmanuel Congregation Church. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com McKinlay Funeral Home 76 Main St. E. Ridgetown, Ontario 519-674-3141 <iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/202792086" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/202792086">Christina Ackford Memorial Video</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user27484248">McKinlay Funeral Homes Ltd.</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>