MASON CITY — Maria “Christina” Arndt, 62, of 1312 N. Madison Ave., Mason City, died Tuesday afternoon (March 6, 2007) with her family at her side at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. 

The Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 10, 2007, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 N. Adams Ave., Mason City, with the Rev. Ken Gehling officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City. 

The family will greet relatives and friends from 4 to 8 p.m. today, March 9, 2007, at the Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E., Mason City, with a Scripture vigil service beginning at 7 p.m. The visitation will continue one hour prior to Christina’s services on Saturday at the church. 

Those wishing to extend memorials may wish to direct them to the Christina Arndt Memorial Fund in the care of her family. 

Thoughts, condolences and stories may be e-mailed to the family on the www.fullertonfh.com Web site. 

Maria Christina Arndt was born on May 13, 1944, at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Mason City to Joseph and Martha (Lopez) Baltierra. She was the sixth of eight children born to her parents and was baptized, made her first communion and was confirmed, all at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Mason City. Christina graduated from Mason City High School in 1962. 

While at a drive-in in Mason City, Christina met her soul-mate and the love of her life, Dennis Lowell Arndt. Christina and Dennis were united in marriage at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Mason City on May 8, 1965. The couple treasured any time that they could spend together, especially walking and shopping at any mall. 

Christina was employed for the past 17 years at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. She was a nursing assistant on the 4-West-Surgical and Oncology floor at the hospital and had the privilege to train many new nursing assistants throughout the past years. Christina developed many close friendships with her co-workers and was a very hard worker. 

Christina’s family was always her highest priority and spending time with them was her greatest joy. She was a devoted wife and homemaker and a nurturing mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved preparing for large family meals and gatherings, especially during the holidays. Christina was passionate about her grandchildren and great-grandson, relishing every precious moment she could with them! 

Christina was a faithful member of the Holy Family Catholic Church. She is described by her family as a strong-willed and caring woman with a great sense of humor. Christina was a feisty lady with both a very fun, and yet, serious side. 

Christina will be dearly missed by her family and all who have shared in her life. 

She is survived by her husband, Dennis Arndt, of Mason City; her children, Andrew Arndt, Annette (Jon) King and Brian Arndt, all of Mason City; her two sisters, Lupe Flavin, of Rockford, Ill., and her twin sister, Martina (Larry) Snyder, of Mason City; and her two brothers, Joseph Baltierra, of Nampa, Idaho, and Thomas (Toni) Baltierra, of Mason City. Christina will always be cherished by her four grandchildren, Kaylyn Nicholson, Tyler Nicholson, Olivia Arndt and Deven King; her great-grandson, Alexander “A.J.” Nicholson; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Preceding Christina in death are her parents, Joseph and Martha Baltierra; and her three brothers, Felix, John and Jay Baltierra.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, (641) 423-8676.

(Published March 9, 2007 - Mason City Globe Gazette)  Photo from MCHS Yearbook.