Tila H. Christians of Grand Rapids, Michigan, age 79 went to her heavenly home on February 9, 2026. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Mathew P. Betts and Beatrice (Kennedy) on February 5, 1947. 

She grew up in Millville, New Jersey, with her siblings Chad and Stephen. In 1965, she graduated from Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian High School. During her college years, she worked summers driving trucks hauling lima beans, working in a pickle factory and at the Wheaton Glass factory in Millville. While attending Calvin College, she met her future husband, Fred J. Christians in late 1968. Tila married Fred in 1970, beginning a wonder-filled 52-year life together lasting until his passing in 2022. Together with Fred, they raised their three children in the Alger Heights area of Grand Rapids. In the late 1980s, Tila began a career driving school buses for the Grand Rapids Christian School Association that lasted over thirty years.

Tila lived a life rich with passion and many experiences. She was a lifelong musician who played accordion, harmonica and piano. She also directed children’s musical performances in the 1980s at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church. At Calvin College, she was an art major. Her artful spirit fueled her to paint, make leatherworks, jewelry, woodworks and many other creations throughout her life. Tila also had a natural mechanical talent. With an ever-growing tool collection, she could fix everything on a car from brakes, starters, carburetors, axles, engine wiring to even installing a manual choke. As an athlete, she excelled in many sports in high school from basketball to field hockey. She continued playing softball into her 40s playing centerfield and batting clean-up in church leagues. She preferred sliding head-first. Tila loved nature and had a soft spot for animals. Often, she would rescue all sorts of injured animals and bring them home to assess and care for. Tila enjoyed many camping trips over the years with her family to Manistee and Hiawatha National Forests.

She lived with an ever-burning innate curiosity about who God is and the meaning of it all. This led her to experience a “God” moment in the late 1970s. She was Baptized in 1978 at the People’s Church in Grandville, Michigan. In the last years of her life, she attended Ada Bible Church in Kentwood, Michigan. Her journey and relationship with God continued until her passing. Her loving, generous and uniquely spirited heart will be painfully missed by her friends and family. 

She is survived by her brother Chad and children Caleb, Terra and Noah. Her Grandchildren Abel, Taia, Yessira, Yandel, Harper, Adelyn and Ellen. Her Great Grandchildren include Riley and Reid. 

Her memorial service will be at Ada Bible Church (2045 68th Street, Caledonia, Michigan 49316) on April 2nd at 10am.