Obituaries

Christine Hernandez passed away peacefully Sept 29th surrounded by her family. She was born to the late Carlos and Maria Martinez in Monterrey, Mexico and was the oldest of five siblings. In 1946, her family settled in Santa Clara where Christine earned her LVN license and for a time was a private nurse. She also worked as a jewelry buyer for Joseph Magnin Department Store and was an active member of Club del Mar in San Jose. In 1952, she met and later married her future husband, Victor. They were married December 11, 1955 and began their life and together raised three children in Fremont.

Chris was a prominent local business owner/broker, starting Gold Star Realty in 1978 until she retired in 2006. Through her business, Chris helped many people realize their dream of home ownership. She was also instrumental in acquiring and establishing the first homeless shelter for Tri-City Homeless Coalition and the first home for battered women and children in the tri-city area.

She was a recognized leader of many civic and charitable organizations throughout the bay area. She served on the first Fremont Citizen?s Advisory Committee for the Fremont Police Department. She was a dedicated Commissioner for the City of Fremont Sister City Commission where she developed and sustained a relationship with Puerto Penasco, Mexico since 1976. She proudly supported the restoration of Mission San Jose de Guadalupe and was ?Mission Days? festival chairperson when the mission was completed in 1985.

Chris also dedicated herself to many other committees and organizations throughout her life which included; Ohlone College Foundation, Fremont-Newark Philharmonic Society, St Rose Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, Candle Lighters, Chamber of Commerce, Girls Town of Italy, Fremont Youth Service Center, Fremont Elks, Washington Township Country Club and American Business Women?s Association, in which she was elected Woman of the Year in 1971.

In 2008, she was presented with a City Resolution for her distinguished service to the City of Fremont and to the Fremont community by the late Honorable Mayor Bob Wasserman.

To all that knew her, she was full of life and kind hearted. To her family, she was a devoted sister and mother and was affectionately known as ?Grandma Sweetheart? to her beloved grandchildren. She will be remembered for her generous professional service, bright smile, and humorous words of wisdom.

She is survived and will be dearly missed by her loving husband, Vic, sons, Victor Rene and Charles, daughter Diane, son-in-law, Patrick, grandchildren Julia, Connor and Griff, as well as many other family members and dear friends.

Visitation Sunday, October 7, from 1-5pm with a Vigil at 3pm at Fremont Memorial Chapel, 3723 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 8, 10am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 43148 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, CA.