Tracy Christensen

09/24/1959 - 07/02/2026

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Tracy Christensen, RN, who died in Mission, Texas, surrounded by her family, after seven years valiantly fighting Stage IV Cancer. Born Tracy Ann Dickson in Chicago, Illinois, she finished high school a semester early with hopes of eventually becoming a doctor. She was accepted to the University of Chicago School of Medicine, one of the most prestigious schools in the country, but never attended; her father, Marty, couldn't afford the tuition. Instead, she followed the footsteps of her mother, Donna, and became a nurse, eventually earning a Bachelors Degree from Northern Illinois University. It was during grad school at NIU that she met her first husband, Barry Berger; they lived together in Dekalb, Illinois, moved to Opelika, Alabama (to work on their PhDs), then eventually settled in Mission, Texas, where they raised their family.

Tracy had several jobs throughout her nursing career, including House Supervisor at Mission Hospital; Director of Education at McAllen Heart Hospital; School Nurse at Cantu Elementary in Mission. She also held several professional credentials including ACLS instructor-trainer; Certified Diabetes Educator; Oncology Certified Nurse instructor (with the lifelong scars to prove it; early in her nursing career, Tracy was exposed to chemotherapy on the palms of her hands and suffered 3rd degree burns). She worked several home health jobs as well, and many, many others. For the last 14 years, Tracy she worked as a school nurse at Grove Junior High in Elk Grove Village, IL, a block from her childhood home.

Her children followed her into the profession, and we were regularly pulled aside by nurses who sat in classrooms in the '90s, where Tracy taught a generation of oncology nurses how to safely administer chemotherapy at South Texas hospitals.

Even after her cancer diagnosis in 2019, Tracy continued to work full-time and continued to do good for people. The stories are endless, but to name just a few: she administered CPR to a colleague; she gave Narcan to an overdosing student; and she convinced the staff at Unilever to donate a year's supply of feminine hygiene products for the students at her school district after meeting them by chance at Pitchfork Music Festival.

Losing our Mom has been devastating. She was well-loved by her children: Joe (Leigha), Rachel (Alex), and Sarah.

Our family would like to extend sincere, unwavering thanks to the following: the providers at Illinois Cancer Specialists in Arlington Heights, Illinois; her infusion center staff; the front-office staff at Grove Junior High; all of Mom's friends who checked in on her regularly and made her meals and reminded her that she was loved. Your kindness and your dedication was not unnoticed. We are very grateful to you all.

Per Tracy's wishes, there will be no service. Please don't skip your cancer screenings. We miss you every day, Mom.