Christine Rachel Rushforth (née Blunt)

After a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease, Christine Rachel Rushforth (née Blunt) passed peacefully on February 17, 2023. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Andrew, and her daughters, Rachel (Joe) and Zoë (Gordon), and grandchildren Joshua, Megan, Layla, Jacob, Abigail, Jhye, and Lucy.

Daughter of Francis Ivor Blunt and Dorothy Margaret McKenzie-Grieve (née Turner), Christine was born on November 7, 1944 in Lutterworth, Leicestershire in the United Kingdom. She is predeceased by parents and younger brother Stephen Roger Blunt (Carole).

As a teen, Christine was very involved with Guiding and was the first “Queen’s Guide” in Lutterworth. She went on to become a Brown Owl of the Brownie pack in Dronfield, Derbyshire. Her commitment to Guiding and the development of women and girls was lifelong.

In 1962 at the age of 17, Christine met her future husband, Andrew James Rushforth, while he was a young engineer working on the extension of the M1 motorway through Leicestershire. They married in September 1964.

In 1974, the global oil crises led to a significant recession in England and Andrew and Christine sought a new life for their young family in Victoria, BC. Andrew traveled to Canada to investigate and, within two weeks, called home and said “Sell the house!” Christine and the girls used every black crayon in the house to create a large “FOR SALE” sign for the front window. A few months later, the family moved to Victoria, BC, staying with friends John and Fay Craggs until their home in Gordon Head was complete.

Christine adapted quickly to life in Canada, and made friends through her volunteer work at her children’s school, through activities such as quilting, and by providing leadership as Brown Owl to a local Brownie pack faced with closure. Christine loved their new life in Canada, and loved Vancouver Island, but was always amazed by the sheer size of everything in her new environment; the houses, the cars, the trees, the mountains, even the potatoes were bigger than those in England!

In 1981, Christine began her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology, graduating in 1986. Her talent with language and keen insight led to a career as a public information officer and speech writer for many officials within the provincial cabinet and provincial public service.

In 1997, Christine was diagnosed with celiac disease which led to years of volunteer leadership and advocacy with the Celiac Association of Canada, including acting as editor of the newsletter and organizing annual conferences. For her commitment and dedication, Christine received Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for services to the Celiac Association of Canada.

Since 2009, Christine has lived with grace and strength despite the challenges posed by Parkinson’s disease, which eventually led to her passing.

Christine loved to create and was an avid quilter, seamstress, watercolour painter and Scottish Country dancer. Among her most treasured memories were vacations in Parksville with Charles and Carolyn Stephenson, and her travels with Andrew throughout Europe and North America with lifelong friends, Jane and Tony Robson.

Friends and family loved her bravery, spirit, sociability, cheerfulness and playful sense of humour. She brought her impressive organizational and leadership skills to parties, weddings and her volunteer work but her pride and joy were her daughters and her grandchildren.

Christine’s family have decided against having a funeral and will be holding a small celebration of life sometime in the future. Donations to Canadian Celiac Association or Parkinson Society BC in memory of Christine would be welcomed in lieu of flowers. The family would like to give special thanks to the nursing staff at St. Charles Manor, Dr. Atwell-Pope and Dr. Govender for the support and care they provided to Christine and her family.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com