Cristina Sommer

Cristina passed away in peace at the Russell de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis, Missouri. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Dennis J. Sommer, of St. Louis, Missouri, her daughter Stephanie Anne Aya, her son-in-law Ruben Aya, her grand-daughter Zinnia Aya of Portland, Oregon, her twin sister Martha Maria Calderon of Bogota, Colombia, her sister Doris Valderrama of Bogota, Colombia, her brother-in-law Russell Sommer of St. Louis, Missouri and her brother-in-law Glennon Sommer of St. Louis, Missouri.

Maria Cristina Calderon was born on May 21, 1953 in Bogota, Colombia. Her parents Antonio Calderon and Rosita Gonzalez de Calderon had four children. Cristina and her sister Martha were fraternal twins.

From the early age of 12, Cristina vigorously pursued athletics as a volleyball player. She played for her university varsity team and for a time played competitively with the Colombian Women's National Team. Cristina was 20 years old in 1973 when she met Dennis at the U.S. Peace Corps training center in Bogota. Upon completing his assignment with credit union cooperatives in Cali, Colombia, Dennis lived in Aberdeen, Scotland and worked on an offshore oil rig located in the North Sea. While Dennis was in Scotland, Cristina taught kindergarten for two years. Cristina and Dennis grew their relationship from afar writing letters for over a year. Dennis returned to Colombia and resumed his courtship of Cristina in December 1975.

On May 1, 1976, Cristina and Dennis were married at “Madre del Salvador” Catholic Church in Bogota. After their honeymoon in Cartagena, Colombia, the couple went to live in St Louis, Missouri. It was there that they raised their daughter, Stephanie. As a mother raising her daughter, Cristina became a girls sports advocate as a volleyball coach for primary and middle school teams.

Cristina was an extremely curious person who loved to read, travel, learn new things and she was an avid movie buff. She also loved music and dancing. She had a passion for tennis and would never turn down the opportunity to play. She brought great joy and wonderful energy to so many of her family and friends, in both Colombia and the United States.

Cristina had a smile that would light up the room. In rememberance of Cristina please consider making a memorial donation to Operation Smile. Help give an underprivileged child with an untreated cleft condition a new smile and change his or her life forever. :)

Operation Smile Donation Page:

https://www.operationsmile.org/ways-give

Donate by Phone:

1-888-249-3797