Christine Hamilton

It is with profound sadness that we share that our sister, aunt, cousin, friend Christine "Tina" Hamilton died on November 3, 2024, after a valiant three plus years fight against three different cancers.
Tina was born on October 12, 1952, in New Jersey. She was the fourth daughter of the late Frances (Nolan) and Thomas Hamilton. Three sisters and one brother came after her.
Tina attended St. Matthews Elementary School in Edison, NJ, for K-8. She completed 9th grade at Thomas Jefferson Junior High School and graduated from Edison Senior High School in 1972. Tina was a thespian in high school and worked in set designs and costumes. She attended Middlesex County College where she was on the staff of the school newspaper. Tina went on to graduate from Rutgers University with a BA in Political Science and Journalism in 1979. She interned for Congressman Edward J. Patten (NJ) in Washington DC in the turbulent year, 1978. She worked for state Senator Bernard Dwyer from 1979 to 1981 as his office staff.
Tina worked at the Edison Post Office from 1971-1977. Later she worked for Middlesex County, NJ for 32 years. She worked for four years in the Family Court and 26 years as a Senior Probation Officer in the Criminal Court. She especially enjoyed working with Judge Robert Figarotta. She spent her life in service to her family and community.
Tina enjoyed music and was especially fond of Billy Joel and the Eagles. She loved to travel and traveled to many places around the world. She was fond of the Jersey shore, and she especially loved spending time there with her family and friends.
She will be dearly missed by her sisters Teri Durkin (Harry), Peggy Hamilton, Pat Marino (Jim), JoAnne Gunkel (Gary), Kathleen Hamilton Galante (Philip Pepe), and Cecilia Sailer (Craig), and her brother Tom Hamilton; her nieces and nephews - Bill Hofer (Lisa), Joe Hofer (Michele), Scott Kimball, Chris Kimball, Lisa Marino Cameron (Andrew), Jamie Marino (Alexis Burbank), Matt Gunkel (Katie), Lyndsay Gunkel (Bobby Howard), Gianni Galante (Laura Schwinder), Shane Galante (Mae Pennebaker), Michela Galante (Dan Davidson), Justin Guilder (Samantha), Zach Lagasse, Clint Lagasse (Allison). She will also be missed by grand nieces and nephews, cousins and many devoted friends - especially Mary Arway (Greg Giovenco), Liz Arway (Craig Corson), Alice and Elaine Ashton.
Tina will be remembered for her sweet smile and kind, generous heart. A secular memorial for family and friends will take place on Sunday, November 17, 2024, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at the Costello - Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Ave., Metuchen. Her burial will be at Resurrection Burial Park in Piscataway, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Tina to the Center for Hope Hospice and Palliative Care, 1900 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, NJ, 07076, https://cfhh.org/ or the Make a Wish Foundation New Jersey, https://wish.org/, would be greatly appreciated.