St. George, Utah - Christene Kipiotes, 83, died December 28, 2012. She was born July 16, 1929 in Murray, Utah to Louella Peterson Kanelas and Nick Kanelas. She was later adopted by James Kipiotes. Christene was an only child.

Christene graduated from Ogden High School and Henager Business College in Ogden. She was interested in being a secretary, so after graduation from Business School, she went to Granada Hills, California in 1951 to seek her career, and found it by working for the Director of Workers Compensation, State of California, for 40 years of her life. Her work was her life and she enjoyed it immensley.

During her life she met Bessie Colledge and they became best friends and roommates. They did much traveling and many interesting things together. When they became retirement age in 1992 they decided to go back to their roots in Utah, and chose St. George for their retirement community.

Christenes mother brought Christene up as a Seventh Day Adventist but when Christene went to California, religion did not seem important to her. She did not attend any church. After Christenes mother passed away in 2001, Christene one day after over 40 years, out of the clear blue stated to her friend Bess, "I need to go back to Church"! At that time, she and her friend Bessie started back to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Both took studies and joined the Red Cliffs Seventh Adventist Church in 2003.

Christene loved the sermons in church every week and was very interested in gardening, cooking, singing and her love of life was animals. Her dog Abby was her special friend. During the 8 months Christene was declining in health at Spring Gardens Assisted Living, every day her question to whomever visited her was "Hows my Abby"?

When Christene was having health issues it was suggested by health care professionals that she go to a special care facility to help her with her needs. She agreed to the suggestion and was very complimentary to those who cared for her in her last days on this earth.

Christene is survived by her church family and her best friend, Bessie Colledge.

Graveside services will be held Friday, January 4, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. George City Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. prior to services at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W. St. George Blvd. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary 435-673-4221.