Christina de Koning

IVINS - Kayenta lost one of its greatest treasures when Christina "Ineke" de Koning passed away on February 22nd, 2013, after a long battle with lung cancer. Ineke was happy to spend her final days in her home with her family and loving partner surrounding her, and with the support of many friends. Ineke always considered the red mountains of Kayenta her home, and was greatly comforted by their sight in her final days. Ineke was born in Breda, Holland, on October 14th, 1942. She was the third of four children born to Johanna Adriana Maria van Meel and Antonius Petrus van Oosterhout. She attended nursing school in Breda and worked in the local hospital for a few years. While there she made friends with Gerrie de Koning, the sister of her future husband, Joseph "Jos" de Koning. Thank goodness for blind dates! Jos immigrated to the United States in 1964 to pursue work in the electrical engineering field, and Ineke followed him a year later to work in nursing. They married soon after, tying the knot in 1967, in Waltham, Massachusetts. Ineke spent her life caring for others in the field of nursing, starting in Massachusetts, then in St. Louis, and finally in the Bay Area of California. In 1973, Jos and Ineke bought a home in Los Altos, CA, where they lived together for 26 more years. After her beloved husband, Jos, passed away in 1999, Ineke retired from the field of nursing, having become Director of Nursing at the Sharon Heights nursing home in Palo Alto, CA. Ineke had two great passions: gourmet cooking (as well as just regular cooking), and ceramic pottery. She spent many days at the potter's wheel, forging a series of precious friendships while molding the clay at the ZIA pottery studio in Kayenta. She delighted in organizing dinners for her family and friends, paging through her cookbooks and planning menus to please us all. She possessed extraordinary culinary skills and even didn't shy away from planning to re-enact the menu of the last dinner on the Titanic. She was actively planning the 10 course dinner for April 14, up to a few weeks before her death. Ineke was a warm down-to-earth friend who, through her cooking, loved to express her overflowing hospitality. While considering where to spend her retirement years, Ineke was lucky to find love again. Jan Emming, a dear friend from early years in Holland, came into her life and to everyone's delight, he convinced her to move to Kayenta where they began 12 wonderful years of life together. Jan and Ineke had many adventures together in the states and abroad, as well as many wonderful nights of quiet at home together. Ineke will be greatly missed by her three children: Caroline (Anthony) Islas of Sacramento, CA, Saskia (David) Lewis of Nashville, TN, and Craig (Andrea) de Koning, of Walnut Creek, CA, as well as her two grandchildren, Julianna Lewis and David Lewis, of Nashville, TN. Ineke will also be greatly mourned by her partner Jan Emming, who loved her deeply. In addition, Ineke will certainly be missed by her large group of friends in Kayenta, and her loving extended family in Holland. The family is grateful for the many friends, neighbors, and professionals who helped care for Ineke in her last months. We especially wish to thank the devoted staff at Dixie Hospice Care. A private family service will be held for Ineke on Saturday, March 1st. A celebration of life service will be held in Kayenta on March 16th, at 12pm. Arrangements are made under the caring direction of Serenicare Funeral Home. Friends and family are invited to sign Ineke's guest book at www.serenicare.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dixie Hospice Care.