Christine Ganuelas

The life and legacy of Christine Louise Thompson Ganuelas. Known to many as "Chris" She was born August 18, 1937 to Chief Henry Thompson of Cello and Agnes Kywayputz of Idaho. Proud GrandDaughter of Chief Tommy Thompson She married the love of her life Victor Ganuelas on Valentines day 1959, married 64 years. She is survived by her husband. She is also survived by 5 children, Gail, Victor, Bernice, Terry and Morales, 5 Grandchildren, Melissa Rogers, Todd Pietscher, Douglas Yallup, Samantha Pietscher and Allison Ganuelas, 2 Great Grandchildren, Alexander and Amelia Reynoso, 8 Adopted grandchildren and their parents, Chanda Rabanal and her children Xavier, Isaiah and Aiyanna Alvear, Austin Rabanal and Danika with their children, Laila, AJ, Isaac Nathaniel and Temise. She is also survived by her Warm Springs Family, Marcia, Johnny & Darwin Simtustus and their children. She leaves behind some wonderful friends as family, Tucelia and the late Ray James, Linnea And her late husband Steve Ganuelas, Alvin and June Pinkham. Who spent wonderful times together, traveling, camping and fishing, get togethers at each other's homes and playing cards all night long, or it seemed like all night. She has special friendships with Betty Gould, Lorna "LJ" Jim and her sisters, Mary D of the Yakama Warriors and her coworkers from MCH and CHR Programs. Please forgive if we forget anyone, we all know you are important. She would follow Victor to most of the Yakama Warrior Functions and the children and grandchildren also followed him. She loved to fish, well actually she said, " If I want to spend time with my husband, I better learn to fish!" She was an avid Bingo player for many years, then turned casino player! She loved going to the matinee movies and then to a late lunch, a ritual she would share with her grandchildren beginning with Melissa. She was generous with praise and gifts and picking out the most appropriate cards. Her generous nature helped many people who struggled by buying items they made to sell. Her job as a CHR seemed to give her way to pick up Native people walking on the road, but it was her caring and empathetic nature. Christine was a homemaker until the youngest, Morales went to school. She was lovingly guided by Gloria Ganuelas James Shilow to her first job. She was an MCH worker for the YN. She met and counseled many many people while assisting them with maternal child services and education. She worked at the YN furniture factory. We children were lucky to get remnant tote bags! She attended YVC and received a degree and began work for the YN CHR program. There she worked for many years to eventually become the Program Manager until her retirement. She was a loving, caring woman who again counseled her clients, not in the physician way, but as a mother, sister, daughter or friend. She touched many hearts with her kindness and made many lifelong friends. Too many to mention, you all know who you are and what she meant to you or how she touched your heart and let her love shine through you! We want to mention two extraordinary events that happened last year. These 2 events brought so much joy and pride to her and to the entire Thompson family. Last August we were blessed with a big surprise! The city of The Dalles sought Christine out to get an approval for a mural, which was unanimously voted on, of Chief Tommy Thompson! She met the artist and the beautifully completed mural is displayed on E 3rd street and monroe. The second event happened in September during the Umatilla Elders day dinner. The theme of the dinner was "Celebrating The Fisherwomen Of Cello" . The photo for the theme was Christine and her beautiful Mother Agnes along with 3 other Celilo women standing by the Falls. She was honored and presented with a huge picture depicting the theme. We, the family of Christine want to send heartfelt thanks to the Umatilla Elders Committee and to the City of The Dalles and Walldogs for bringing this beautiful woman well deserved and long awaited honor along with the entire Direct descendants of Chief Tommy Thompson and Chief Henry Thmpson. She is preceded in death by her parents, Chief Henry Thompson and Agnes Kywayputz Her Thompson Brothers, Curtis, Kenneth, Moses and Davis. A sister, Dorothy Thompson Simtustus. Thompson Nieces, Muriel, Patricia and Diana. Daughter-in-Law, Selly Shaw. Thompson Nephews, Vincent Sr. Kevin and Donavan. and her Daughter in Law Shelly Shaw. The Dorothy Thompson Simtustus Family, Stanley Sr, Jacqueline, Amos Jr. Roger and Eveline Simtustus Patt. Dressing services will be held at Wapato Valley Hills Friday March 31 at 10:00 am with overnight services at Wapato longhouse funeral Saturday April 1 at 8am. Final resting place Reservation Cemetery Wapato, WA. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Christine Ganuelas, please visit our flower store.