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SANTA CLARITA, Calif. -- Christina Burbano-Jeffrey, wife, mother, grandmother and daughter, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Santa Clarita, California. She had just turned 50.
Christina enjoyed a loving, music-filled romance with her husband, Jim Jeffrey, and was the proud and devoted mother of Skylee Jeffrey Rosenwinkel. Christina and Jim lived in Santa Clarita for the last 23 years. They recently celebrated their 25th anniversary by traveling in Europe, making a special visit to see Skylee and their son-in-law, Kurt, who are welcoming their first child to the world.
She was an admired professor at Antelope Valley College and the College of the Canyons, where she and Jim both taught music, and a highly sought-after private music instructor and performer. Christina also conducted the college's Mariachi Nuevo Canto and Symphony of the Canyons. Her students, throughout the decades, recall that her positivity brightened their classes and inspired them to improve. With her striking natural silver hair, which she recently added purple streaks to, her kind and welcoming spirit, and Christina's exceptional artistry with the violin, Christina was an unmistakable presence in the progressive rock community. Her band mates in Lobate Scarp recall Christina's participation ignited the most definitive version of the band. They also eagerly awaited the release of her solo project, Hypnagogic Hum, which will be completed by Jim and her friends so that the world may celebrate her talent.
As a freelance violinist, she played in studio sessions and live performances with such prominent artists as Twila Paris, Phil Keaggy, Glass Harp and Yes. Just prior to the pandemic, Christina traveled to China to play violin on a monthlong orchestral concert tour, an experience that shaped and deeply inspired her. After earning a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance (with minors in composition, viola, piano, and voice) from Youngstown State University's prestigious Dana School of Music, where she met her husband, Jim, Christina achieved a master's degree in ethnomusicology from Arizona State University. There, she taught lessons on a Yaqui reservation, recorded Yaqui musicians playing the music of traditional deer dance and Easter celebrations, and created instructional videos to preserve these traditions for teaching future generations. To Jim, Christina was the most loving, caring, brilliant, and inspiring person he ever knew--passionate about art and helping people. She was a devout Christian and did her best to emulate the way Jesus would treat people at every opportunity with love, grace, encouragement and acceptance.
Christina is survived by her husband, Jim; daughter, Skylee; son-in-law, Kurt; grandchildren, Silas and Ezra; mother, Bonnie Jean Mayer Pearl; father, Raul Burbano; and mother-in-law, Cynthia Foore.
In addition to her husband, daughter, grandchildren, son-in-law and parents, Christina leaves her stepmother, Carolyn Burbano, and stepsisters, Susie (Chad) McGarry and Mikki (Brian) Mihok; and nieces, Mikayla and Bella Mihok. In addition, Christina leaves her aunt and uncle, Bitsy and Chappie Bair and their children, Kristin, Booker and Tucker, and grandchildren, Syda, Sammie and Koen Ray; aunt and uncle, Lucy and Cesar Arguello; aunt and uncle, Patricio and Norma Burbano; aunt and uncle, Paco and Maritza Burbano; and her father's American family, who kindly helped with citizenship, Daniel and Shirley King; sisters, Janie Knap and Jackie Salmon; and brothers, Daniel, Bo, Billy, David and Timmy.
She was preceded in death by grandparents, Andrew and Clara Mayer of Youngstown; Edmundo and Irlanda Burbano of Quito, Ecuador; stepfather, Dennis Pearl of Youngstown; and father-in-law, James Edwin Jeffrey Jr. of Aliquippa, Pa.
Services will begin at noon Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (PCA), 471 Mathews Road, Boardman, OH 44512, https://cpcboardman.org/.
Services will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at Santa Clarita United Methodist Church, 26640 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, https://www.scumc.org.
Streaming video will also be available for the Boardman and Santa Clarita services.
Friends have set up a memorial fund at GoFundMe to support the family during this transition.
Christina was universally beloved by friends, family, students, and colleagues. If you loved her, live as she lived: make time to care for others, show kindness, create whatever art inspires you to live fully, and share it with the world.
(special notice)