Mary Christine “Chris” Hoden

Mary Christine “Chris” Hoden (nee Wiederholt), 86, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, returned to her heavenly Lord on December 29, 2025 while at home surrounded by her family and friends after a battle with cancer and Alzheimer’s. 

Chris is survived by her three children and granddaughter: Brian Hoden (spouse Karin Hoden), Shannon Farrell (spouse David Farrell), Tarra Hoden, and Phaedra Hoden.

Chris was preceded in death by her husband Leroy “Lee” Hoden (2010), her parents Alfred Wiederholt and Lucille Wiederholt (nee Farnan) and her youngest brother, Mark Wiederholt.

Chris was born on July 24, 1939 in Kansas City, Missouri. Her family moved near Conception and Clyde, Missouri, where her family ran a black angus cattle farm. Her family later returned to Kansas City, Missouri. Chris attended St. Mary’s College obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and then obtained her Master’s degree in Biology at Creighton University where she met her husband, Lee, who also attended Creighton. After both obtained their Master’s degrees, Lee joined the Air Force as an Officer, which took them around the world to include Washington, Colorado, Ohio, Turkey (twice) and Spain. After Lee’s 21 years of service, they retired in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Chris was very involved at church having spent many years teaching confirmation classes and acting as a Eucharistic Minister. Chris also enjoyed giving the holy Eucharist to Catholics who were sick in the hospital and to the elderly in nursing homes. My mom would not just provide communion to those in need, but spent hours talking and listening to them in their time of need.

Chris was always very active physically, which included a great passion for horseback riding, that involved trail riding in the Bosque and the Sandia mountains and extensive Endurance racing. In her younger years, Chris was a very talented artist (oil paintings and sketches), and she enjoyed sports, such as golf, tennis and racketball. Chris was always ready with a laugh, was very outgoing, and had many friends. Her smile could be seen and her laugh could be heard a mile away! Chris was the heart of the family. Chris, our beloved mother and grandmother, will be greatly missed.

The rosary and funeral service will be held at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church (“Nativity”) on January 7, 2026. The rosary is at 8:00a.m., the funeral service is at 9:00 a.m., and a reception will follow at Nativity’s parish hall at 10:00 a.m. 

Flowers for her services can be sent to Nativity, or in lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to one of her favorite charities: (1) Roadrunner Food Bank in Albuquerque; (2) Saint Vincent De Paul at Nativity church; and/or (3) The Monastery at Conception Abbey in Missouri found at www.conceptionabbey.org/support/