In 2005, Christopher was flying Medevac flights in northern Manitoba when his Christmas gifts arrived in Toronto, with the outside box nicely wrapped. Inside were four unwrapped gifts and a note: "You figure out which belongs to whom." Who knew the set of kitchen knives was meant for his non-domestic brother? How we will miss his impishness.
Chris was a complicated, passionate person who felt a sense of justice and had empathy for the underdog. An eclectic reader, he loved to debate weighty issues of life and world affairs, always seeing the bigger
picture.
A middle child and brother of Vanessa and Jeffrey, Chris challenged our parenting skills as he pushed the limits to explore life. He studied political science and philosophy, but left school just short of earning his degree to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. He began flying in Montreal, then Vancouver, and finally for Perimeter Airlines in Winnipeg. There he met the remarkable Kourtenay Kilfoyle, who would become his wife.
In March, 2006, Chris was hired by Air Canada. He was relishing the prospect of moving to Toronto when a problem surfaced with his medical. Tests revealed terminal cancer with the prognosis of a year at best.
Chris showed no anger, no denial - just stoic acceptance that, if this was the hand he had been dealt, "I will have to live at the speed of light for the time remaining." First, a wedding planned for two years hence was moved up because, as Kourtenay said, "If you think that means you're not going to marry me, you're wrong."
They married at the McMichael gallery in Kleinburg, Ont., on July 23, 2006, a joyful, not bitter, only sweet occasion. A Hawaiian luau weekend at the Kilfoyle cottage on Lake Winnipeg followed.
Subsequent months were filled with family gatherings, travel and the purchase of his-and-hers motorcycles. Chris and Kourtenay furnished their new home with care and landscaped the garden with perennials, as though there would be untold tomorrows.
Chris was an accomplished drummer, determined in his final months to write and record a love song for Kourtenay.
He suffered greatly, but refused to play the pity card. Kourtenay tended to his increasing needs with devotion, selflessness and sense of humour intact.
A wall hanging in their kitchen asked:
"In the end what matters most is:
"How well did you live
"How well did you love
"How well did you learn to let go?"
Christopher passed all three tests with flying colours.
Maureen and David Ireson
are Christopher's parents.