Christina Barbara Gilsdorf

Christina Barbara Gilsdorf passed away peacefully on September 21, 2024 after a 7-month battle with pancreatic cancer. From the moment of diagnosis until the very end, she showcased her characteristic strength of spirit and maintained that her family was the most important aspect of her life. Although her life was tragically cut short, she expressed gratitude for her fulfilling life experiences: attending university, thriving in her career as a mental health therapist, marrying the love of her life, and being the mother of her two wonderful children. Christina’s life was characterized by love of family, passion for helping others, and ability to bring fun and humor to any gathering.

Christina, or “Ina” as she was nicknamed during childhood, was born in Berwyn, Illinois on October 8, 1987 to William and Barbara Gilsdorf. She was the oldest among her two younger siblings, Theresa and Matthew. From the time Theresa was born two years after Christina, the two were inseparable, which continued into adulthood. When Matthew was born six years later, all three siblings shared memorable experiences that formed a strong, everlasting bond. While studying psychology at Adler University, she fell in love with her classmate, Tony de Asa, who shared her passion for helping others through counseling. They graduated in October 2013 and Tony proposed to her the very same day. They married on October 18, 2014 and knew that they wanted to start a family together. On July 24, 2019, Christina gave birth to their son, Kaidan de Asa, followed by his sister, Riley de Asa, on September 23, 2020. The four of them, in addition to their rescue dog, Zen, defined their close-knit and loving family. After three years of being a full-time mother, Christina went back to work full-time as a mental health therapist.

Christina’s passion for helping others began at a very early age, when she would use the coat closet as her counseling office to listen to her younger sister’s childhood troubles. She would extend the same assistance to her close friends, who then remarked that her advice was so helpful that she should consider counseling as a career path. Following her compassionate nature and the feedback from others, she studied at Illinois State University, where she majored in psychology and minored in women’s and gender studies. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2010 and was accepted to Adler University, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Psychology. Shortly thereafter, Christina attained her Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor titles. After gaining experience in several different mental health care settings, she proceeded to work at Urban Wellness, fulfilling her dream of helping clients in an outpatient counseling center. Throughout her career, her fellow therapists and clients alike always appreciated her remarkable empathy and unwavering desire to guide others through their hardships. In addition to her commendable work ethic, her coworkers enjoyed her companionship and bright personality at various company outings.

Among anyone who knew Christina, the words that most readily come to mind when describing her would be witty, lighthearted, and fun. These characteristics facilitated the development of long-lasting friendships, which began as early as preschool and continued throughout her life. Holidays and birthday celebrations were defined by Christina’s ability to light up a room with her humor and sharp wit. Memories of her past jokes and clever comments are cited to this day and never fail to bring a smile to the faces of those who remember them. Her bright nature and creativity were showcased through the making of home videos with family and friends. She was an avid reader and writer who also excelled in creating beautiful crafts that were used for birthday decorations and heartfelt gifts. She was adventurous at heart and never missed an opportunity to experience a place she had never been. She was an integral part of her childhood family vacations to Wisconsin, California, and South Carolina. She later visited New York and celebrated her honeymoon in Jamaica. Even outside of planned trips, she was always ready for a spontaneous outing, even if that was just a small gathering with a few close friends. Regardless of the circumstance, she was always the life of the party. Christina’s life was filled with love, laughter, and compassion. She had a profound impact on everyone who knew her. Despite the devastating diagnosis she received, Christina’s strength of spirit never wavered; in fact, she continued to offer emotional support for her loved ones. She will always be fondly remembered, deeply missed, and dearly loved by her parents, siblings, husband, children, nephews, in-laws, and friends. Christina is leaving behind a legacy of putting family first, extending a helping hand to those in need, and always bringing joy to any situation. Her memory will be cherished forever. 

Visitation on Wednesday September 25th, from 3-8 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home 3117 S. Oak Park Avenue, Berwyn.  Funeral Thursday September 26th, 9 a.m. at the funeral home, then proceeding to St. Leonard Church 3318 S. Clarence Avenue for 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial.  Interment, Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.

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