Cristi Michelle Vargas

Cristi Michelle Vargas was born on January 11, 1976, to Coach Dickie and Stella Flores Vargas. After 6 boys, the family welcomed the new baby girl and the Vargas household was never the same.

Cristi attended Miami schools and was a Vandal through and through. For 12 years she was her Mother’s and brother Richard’s copilot to all her dad’s basketball games. During her Junior High years, she participated in volleyball and basketball. She loved music and danced to her own drum, her own beat. She was a 1994 graduate of Miami High School and after graduation, she took her turn working in local restaurants and fast food – Dairy Queen, Burger House, and Country Kitchen. She attended Gila Pueblo College where she was taking EMT courses.

Cristi was employed by Safeway for over 24 years, worked in the produce department and many other areas throughout the store. She enjoyed helping people find the right produce while adding her huge, witty, sense of humor and sometimes her sarcasm to their shopping experience. Through the Safeway Corporation, she was a member of the “Reset Team” for 5 years, resetting stores all over the state of Arizona.

“Nutty Nina,” as she was affectionately called by her nieces and nephews, worked for the Miami Police Department as a dispatcher for many years while also working at Safeway. She volunteered for Tri-City Fire Department, coached Youth League basketball for several years and the kids on her team still called her “coach” even after 30 years.

Cristi was proud of all her brothers, their accomplishments, and spoke about them often. She organized a basketball team called, “Who’s Next?”, and all her brothers played on her team. One of her proudest moments was when her team won the tournament. She traveled to Germany to visit her niece, Nikki, and had the opportunity to visit the Dachau Concentration Camp. When she spoke of this visit it was always in reverence and great regard to the Jewish people and what they endured. Her world travels also took her to the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Southern Bavaria, and Amsterdam. She also attended the Kentucky Derby with one of her best friends, Laura.

“Nina-Nina,” loved all her nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, extended family, and friends. She was bold in her personality and was a bright light in a room. She was famous for her scalloped potatoes and her macaroni and cheese at family gatherings. She loved country music, going to athletic events, eating seafood, having a massage, getting her nails and hair done, crocheting, and cooking. She had many life-long friends, made friends wherever she was, and had a thousand stories. She was crazy and funny and had the biggest loving heart, often taking food and clothing to someone in need or paying for someone’s meal.

Cristi is survived by her brothers, Lenny (Clydene), Kenny (Evelyn), Richard, Steve (Angela), Chris, and those she always considered sisters, Becky Guadiana and Penny Remondini. She loved her fur babies, Foxxy and Luda. Cristi longed for those she lost in her life. Her mom, Stella; her dad, Dickie; and her brother James.

The world became a few decibels quieter at 1:00am, April 28, 2024. We will miss you our dearest Cristi.

A celebration of Cristi’s life will be held at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church on Saturday, May 11. Visitation from 9:00 – 10:00am, followed by the Rosary at 10:00am. Mass will be said at 10:30am .