Obituary for Christopher John Hylkema
Christopher John Hylkema, 33, originally from Westampton, New Jersey, but recently of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died suddenly on February 25, 2021, at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York.
Chris was born on November 22, 1987, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to Debbie and Pete Hylkema. He lived in South Plainfield his first 3 years, and then he and his parents moved to Westampton, New Jersey, where he attended Holly Hills Elementary School, Westampton Middle School, and Rancocas Valley Regional High School (RV). While at RV, Chris was a member of the lacrosse team, Naval ROTC, Drama Club, Concert Choir, Show Choir, Chamber Choir, Rancocas Valley Interfaith Players, the National Honor Society, and performed in numerous talent shows. While studying at Villanova University, Chris was a member of Villanova University’s judo club. He loved to do and teach judo and was one of the first 2 members of the club to earn a black belt.
Chris was a lifelong member of the Boy Scouts of America and attained Eagle Scout status. He won the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award. He volunteered at the Westampton Fire Department and the Westampton Emergency Squad. Later on in life, he was a member of the Emergency Nurses Association and the Air and Surface Transport Association.
Education was important to Chris. He was accepted into Villanova University’s Class of 2010 Nursing Program, where he graduated with honors. In 2015, he obtained his Master of Science (MS), Nursing, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He continued his education by attaining the following licenses and certifications: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC); Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS); Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN); Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN); Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN); Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, Pennsylvania; Neonatal Resuscitation Provider (NRP); Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS); Prehospital Registered Nurse (PHRN); Registered Nurse, Pennsylvania; Registered Nurse, Delaware; Registered Professional Nurse, New Jersey; and completed the Transport Provider Advanced Trauma Course (TPATC).
Chris was working as a Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care, in New York for TEAM Health, caring for patients in the Intensive Care Unit of Elmhurst Hospital in Queens. At the end of 2020, Chris was working in Texas as a Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care, with the Caliburn International LLC mission, supporting government clients in the COVID-19 relief efforts. In March 2020, he took on the venture of owner, advanced practice nurse for Miyabi Clinical Solutions in Philadelphia, providing clients with high-quality direct-care solutions, healthcare education, and support. He also worked for Direct Care, Concierge Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine. From August 2017 through September 2019, Chris worked as an Advanced Practice Nurse, Division of Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care and as a Nurse Practitioner Specialist at AtlantiCare, Atlantic City. From 2014 through 2017, Chris worked as a Critical Care Transport Nurse with jeffSTAT, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, where he brought critical care to patients from the helicopter to the hospital. From 2012 to 2014, Chris worked as a Clinical Nurse, Emergency Medicine, with Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System. From 2011 to 2012, Chris worked as a Staff Nurse, Neurocritical Care, for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and from 2004 to 2012 he worked as a Firefighter/EMT for Westampton Township Emergency Services.
Chris is survived by his mother and father, Debbie and Pete Hylkema of Westampton, New Jersey; his partner, Thor Kress; aunts/uncles Janice/John Hylkema; Ann Provenzano; Donna/David Brophy; and Kathy/David Clontz; cousins Jennifer (Matt) Hylkema-Oostdyk and John Hylkema; Elena (Erick) Provenzano-Martiak and Rossi Provenzano; Ryan (Matt Gorgas), Rachel, Reid, and Riley Brophy; Ashley Gordon and Jacob, Samuel, and Addison Piva; and so many other family members and friends.
Arrangements are with Mt Laurel Home for Funerals. Visitation will be held Saturday, March 6, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm with services/eulogy to follow from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Friends and family may watch the service from home from this link: https://fb.me/e/8p1RhHpCY.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Westampton Middle School Drama Club, 700 Rancocas Road, Westampton, NJ 08060.
This quote was on Chris’s LinkedIn page. I thought it fitting to share:
“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
Chris was born on November 22, 1987, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to Debbie and Pete Hylkema. He lived in South Plainfield his first 3 years, and then he and his parents moved to Westampton, New Jersey, where he attended Holly Hills Elementary School, Westampton Middle School, and Rancocas Valley Regional High School (RV). While at RV, Chris was a member of the lacrosse team, Naval ROTC, Drama Club, Concert Choir, Show Choir, Chamber Choir, Rancocas Valley Interfaith Players, the National Honor Society, and performed in numerous talent shows. While studying at Villanova University, Chris was a member of Villanova University’s judo club. He loved to do and teach judo and was one of the first 2 members of the club to earn a black belt.
Chris was a lifelong member of the Boy Scouts of America and attained Eagle Scout status. He won the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award. He volunteered at the Westampton Fire Department and the Westampton Emergency Squad. Later on in life, he was a member of the Emergency Nurses Association and the Air and Surface Transport Association.
Education was important to Chris. He was accepted into Villanova University’s Class of 2010 Nursing Program, where he graduated with honors. In 2015, he obtained his Master of Science (MS), Nursing, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He continued his education by attaining the following licenses and certifications: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC); Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS); Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN); Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN); Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN); Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, Pennsylvania; Neonatal Resuscitation Provider (NRP); Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS); Prehospital Registered Nurse (PHRN); Registered Nurse, Pennsylvania; Registered Nurse, Delaware; Registered Professional Nurse, New Jersey; and completed the Transport Provider Advanced Trauma Course (TPATC).
Chris was working as a Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care, in New York for TEAM Health, caring for patients in the Intensive Care Unit of Elmhurst Hospital in Queens. At the end of 2020, Chris was working in Texas as a Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care, with the Caliburn International LLC mission, supporting government clients in the COVID-19 relief efforts. In March 2020, he took on the venture of owner, advanced practice nurse for Miyabi Clinical Solutions in Philadelphia, providing clients with high-quality direct-care solutions, healthcare education, and support. He also worked for Direct Care, Concierge Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine. From August 2017 through September 2019, Chris worked as an Advanced Practice Nurse, Division of Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care and as a Nurse Practitioner Specialist at AtlantiCare, Atlantic City. From 2014 through 2017, Chris worked as a Critical Care Transport Nurse with jeffSTAT, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, where he brought critical care to patients from the helicopter to the hospital. From 2012 to 2014, Chris worked as a Clinical Nurse, Emergency Medicine, with Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System. From 2011 to 2012, Chris worked as a Staff Nurse, Neurocritical Care, for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and from 2004 to 2012 he worked as a Firefighter/EMT for Westampton Township Emergency Services.
Chris is survived by his mother and father, Debbie and Pete Hylkema of Westampton, New Jersey; his partner, Thor Kress; aunts/uncles Janice/John Hylkema; Ann Provenzano; Donna/David Brophy; and Kathy/David Clontz; cousins Jennifer (Matt) Hylkema-Oostdyk and John Hylkema; Elena (Erick) Provenzano-Martiak and Rossi Provenzano; Ryan (Matt Gorgas), Rachel, Reid, and Riley Brophy; Ashley Gordon and Jacob, Samuel, and Addison Piva; and so many other family members and friends.
Arrangements are with Mt Laurel Home for Funerals. Visitation will be held Saturday, March 6, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm with services/eulogy to follow from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Friends and family may watch the service from home from this link: https://fb.me/e/8p1RhHpCY.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Westampton Middle School Drama Club, 700 Rancocas Road, Westampton, NJ 08060.
This quote was on Chris’s LinkedIn page. I thought it fitting to share:
“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”