Khristina Riles

This is a hard post for me. This is a former student of mine.

Khristina M. Riles, 19, of Colwell, died Wednesday, October 27, 2010, at her home in Charles City.

Khristina Marie Riles was born May 29, 1991, in Fort Dodge, the daughter of Jeffrey Riles and Susan Martin. Khrissy

Khrissy joined Upward Bound in 2005. She found an acceptance and friends at Upward Bound she had not found at school. She made quick bonds with fellow students with their common interests in Japanese animation (anime and manga) and Harry Potter. She was also an avid reader of fan fiction and enjoyed writing fan fiction. She came to as many UB events as she possibly could.

Throughout high school, she played violin, worked hard on her artwork and music, and graduated in 2009. She worked for Hy Vee in Charles City for three years.

Living family members include her mother, Susan (Mike) Hyland of Colwell; father, Jeff Riles of Burt; sister, Stephanie Riles of Colwell (UB class of ‘11); maternal grandparents, Clayton and Doris Martin of Charles City; paternal grandmother, Lois Riles of Dakota City; grandmother, Vera Hyland of Johnston; God parents, Linn Martin of Charles City and Connie Riles of Dakota City; and many aunts; uncles; and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her great grandmother, Velma Colwell; paternal grandfather, Robert Riles; and grandfather, William Hyland.

I attended Khrissy's funeral today. Khrissy is the 5th former student whose funeral I have gone to. One student from Remsen, four from UB. I have two other related funerals I was unable to go to - another UB student and one former staff person.

Going to these funerals does not get any easier. Nor, as one of Khrissy's classmates told me today, should it.

In addition to losing a former student, Khrissy is the first of my 'Castle Zierath' group to pass on. As part of my honoring her, I will be adding her character's death to the timeline of the world and will have a story outline to go with it. If any of Khrissy's 'Castle Zierath' friends would like to be involved in this endeavor, please let me know.

It doesn't get easier.