Pam Christoferson

On the evening of November 30, 2014, Pamela Anne Christoferson peacefully left this Earth surrounded by the loving faces of her adoring family in Abilene. She was 64 years young. Pam was born a Saturday’s Child in St. Cloud, MN on April 8, 1950. She was the fifth of ten children born to Alice and Don Whiteman. Raised in Duluth, MN, Pam spent summers on Sugar Lake with her maternal grandparents, Ruth and Harry Gilham, helping them in their family-owned general store. In high school, Pam was active in student council and was elected class president her freshman year, was an Alto in the choir, served on the yearbook committee, was a state ranked tennis player, worked as a waitress at the Northland Country Club, baby sat for her younger brothers and sisters, and did this all while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. She graduated from high school one year early. Even though they grew up just miles apart, it was not until college at the University of Minnesota Duluth that the Story of Pam and James (Jim) Stephen Christoferson began. On June 27, 1970, Pam married Jim and embarked on their faithful and Christ-filled adventure. As a newlywed, Pam worked as a registered nurse for St. Mary’s Hospital. Over the course of 47 years, Jim’s career in radio took the couple from Duluth to Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Monterey and back to Texas. Amidst all the moves, Pam’s smile and twinkle in her Irish eyes enabled her to make lifelong friends in all of those cities. Pam and Jim established roots in Abilene and built a home where they raised their family for the last 28 years. Whether it was working full-time or volunteering countless hours for her church and community - all while raising five children - Pam became the very personification of a servant leader. Pam’s many hobbies included cooking, reading, writing poetry, and painting. Both on canvas and in life, she painted with broad strokes and bright colors. If you were to ask her, she would tell you her greatest works were not found hanging on walls but in the hearts and faces of her family. She left this life exactly the way she lived it: surrounded by her family, singing her favorite songs (somewhat off-key) and Making a Memory. She is survived and forever missed by her devoted and faithful spouse, Jim; her daughter Jennifer and husband Stephen Zindler; son James Christoferson; daughter Melissa and husband Chris Hawn; daughter Patricia and husband Jeff Dressen; son Will Christoferson and wife Laura; and grandchildren Jacob and Allie Zindler, Joshua and Lucy Hawn, and Kelton, JR and Kate Dressen. She is also survived by her brothers Kurt and Peter, and her loving sisters Kit, Debbie, Mary and Judy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alice and Don, and brothers Scott, Kevin, and Kim. The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you for the gentle support and love so many have generously offered these last 15 months. A very special thank you is expressed for the amazing care and direction received from Dr. Tony Melnyck and the staff at Texas Oncology, and Liz and Darrell Phariss, Shandra Oden and the wonderful staff and friends at Kinder Hearts Home Health and Hospice. Funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 4, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Abilene with Rev. Msgr. Frederick Nawarskas officiating, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. In lieu of flowers, donations in Pam’s name may be made to The Salvation Army, 1726 Butternut, Abilene, TX 79602, and Meals on Wheels, Plus, P.O. Box 903, Abilene, TX 79604.