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NILES -- It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother Kristina Humenuk of Niles. She passed away peacefully surrounded by those that loved her after a two-year battle with lung cancer on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
She was born on Oct. 31, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, to Mildred Wilmount and Robert Tysar.
She moved to the NE Ohio area with her then husband, Dick Skelton, after he was hired at WFMJ Channel 21 in May 1969.
She continued to stay in the Niles area after their separation to marry Joseph D. Humenuk and so that her children would remain close to their father.
She was the first woman to be hired by RMI Titanium Company in Niles in 1977. She worked in the mill for 11 years.
Shortly after the death of her husband Joe in February of 1985, she went back to school to get an associate's degree in nursing. After getting her degree, she retired from RMI to pursue a career in traveling nursing. She truly enjoyed the travel and caring for people all over the country. As well as any animal that would show up at her door. She loved caring for her "pets" as much as she loved caring for her patients. The last nursing job she was blessed to have was caring for her own mother back in Michigan.
After Mildred passed away, she was finally ready to retire.
Our mom loved THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and sharing the message of Salvation with everyone who would listen.
She attended many Churches and made many friends in her lifetime, with the last one being Grace Church in Niles. She was very passionate about her faith and loved talking about JESUS CHRIST being the ONE and Only True GOD.
She will be forever loved by her friends and family. Particularly Vicky Murray of North Jackson, April Jones of Brookfield and Christine Seay of Warren.
We would especially love to thank Margarita Alvarado and her sons for their friendship, love and the care that they showed for our mom in her final days. We can never thank you enough!!! We would also like to thank Hospice of the Valley for the care, support and help that they provided not only for our mom but for us as well. Thank you!
Those that she leaves to carry on her memory are her children: Ginger Macali Skelton of Niles, Pastor Matt (Crystal) Skelton of Thompson, Rob (LeeAnn) Skelton of Weatherford, Texas, and Shawn Burtch (Becky Stadelmyer) of Brookfield; her grandchildren, Vincent (Sophia) Macali of Hermitage, Pa., Anthony Macali of Niles, Ryan (Jasmine) Skelton of Ashville, Heather (Kaleb) Griffith of Mt. Vernon, Zachary (Jordan Duhy) Skelton of Fort Worth, Texas and Levi Skelton, currently serving our country in the US Marine Corps; her great-grandchildren, Lily, Chase and Rowen; and her much beloved dog, Minnie.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first and second husbands; her daughter-in-law, Terri Skelton of Grand Prairie, Texas; her sister, Diana Russell of Henderson, Nevada; her niece, Michelle Deciantis of Henderson, Nevada; and her nephew, Alan Russell of Henderson, Nevada. She was also preceded in death by many friends that she deeply loved.
We will not be having a funeral service for Kristina. Instead, we choose to rest, knowing that she is at peace and at home in Heaven. If you would like to honor her memory, please rescue a dog or cat that needs a forever home or donate to your local animal shelter. She would love knowing that her "pets" are being taken care of.
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