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She will be inurned next spring at Grandview Cemetery, Bonners Ferry.
Daughter of Hetty Vogels and Hans Karels, Pino was born November 11, 1966, in Haarlem, The Netherlands. She attended Spaarne Haarlem High School, and Social Academy Den Bosch College, The Netherlands. She held an Idaho CNA certificate until her passing.
She lived in The Netherlands before falling in love and moving her life to Yucca Valley, California, with her family and later moving to Bonners Ferry to be close to her former husband’s family, where she lived and raised their son for the next 12 years of her life until her passing.
Pino worked at Boundary Community Hospital as a certified nurses aide for 10 years and truly enjoyed caring for the elderly at the long term care facility. She always regretted leaving the hospital and wanted to get back into the healthcare system and pursue her dream of a nursing degree.
Pino’s dream was always to become an American citizen and that dream came true in 2015, when she studied and passed all that was required of her. She beamed with pride and honor when she realized her dream had come true to be a United States citizen. She would quiz everybody on all the bills and constitution questions, usually stumping everyone.
Pino had a real passion to discuss and debate politics ... something that started as an early interest while attending college in Amsterdam. She coveted the First Amendment and freedom of speech to say what opinion she had on anything in the news or political scene with whomever wanted to debate and was very passionate about her views and being a new U.S. citizen.
She was even more excited about how great she thought America was and how it could be better.
She enjoyed skiing with her son at Schweitzer, kayaking at Smith Lake and always arranging fun activities for her young son and his friends to do. She loved to spend the warm Idaho days and nights enjoying the outdoor spaces she created at her home to enjoy the beautiful weather. Gardening was always her passion and also fixing up her house, as she said it could always be nicer for her son.
More so than anything, Pino loved her family. She was never happier than when in the company of her son. She was a devoted mother who loved him deeply and unconditionally, the pride and joy of her life. The legacy of Pino’s spirit, kindness and compassion will live on through him.
Pino is survived by her son John Hays of Bonners Ferry, mother Hetty Vogels and sister Saskia Karels of Haarlem, The Netherlands, former husband Ron Hays, Metaline, Washington, and her feline family Shadow, little Mouster, Biggie and Cody, as well as close friends and loved ones. She is preceded in death by her father, Hans Karels.
Pino will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched. She is gone, but she will never be forgotten.
Family and friends are invited to sign Pino’s guest book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.