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Women of Distinction

eamwork isn’t just a concept ® Christina took notice of him.
Twhen it comes to Danielle Christina Gonzalez, Realtor and Having grown up with fathers in
“Dee” Butler and Christina Gonza- the military Christina and Hernan
lez. They are the C & D in Team C Danielle "Dee" Butler, Realtor ® started hanging out together and
& D Realtors. Together they work before long, their relationship
to make dreams of homeowner- became serious. Christina was
ship possible. Helping Military Families Find Their Dream Homes 18 when her Dad informed the
Dee was born and raised in a By Judith A. Habert family that his career would now
small town in upstate New York be taking him to Washington and
called Port Byron. “It was a small Photos courtesy of Dee Butler and Christina Gonzalez he had no intention of leaving her
historical town along the Erie Ca- behind, she fought him and was
nal. I was one of 86 in my graduat- told that unless she was married,
ing class. When it came to college, she would have to come with the
I decided to venture to Onondaga family. Two days later Hernan
Community College in Syracuse showed up with a ring, and as the
instead of the local community saying goes, the rest is history.
college to widen my perspec- The couple started their family
tive as going to college near my shortly thereafter and had a little
hometown would be more like girl. They both wanted a bigger
going to the 13th grade, with all family, but when that failed to
the same classmates,” It was in her happen, they decided to adopt.
second semester at college that It started out with adopting one
Dee met her soon to be husband, child and today Christina and
Ryan. One day out of the blue Hernan are the proud parents
he sprung on Dee that he would Christina Gonzalez Dee Butler of five, named in order of age:
be leaving for Bootcamp in two Katrina, Anthony, Kaden, Natalie,
months. Then it was changed to pregnant, but they sat my hus- military. “My Dad is great and has and Annie.
two weeks and then two days. “It band and me down and told us always sought out adventure at So how did these two women
was at this point that I told him that if I didn't have some sort of every turn. He joined the Navy, from different parts of the coun-
I wanted to marry him. He went hormone replacement therapy right after my Mom and he were try and different backgrounds
to Bootcamp and when he got that internally at 23, I was 68 married. He decided that they end up become partners in their
back, we got married.” Following years old already. They suggested should see the world.” Christina real estate business? Dee shares,
Bootcamp, he was deployed so the need for a trainer, as well, was born in Oakland, at what “One of my friends, Leah Pom-
we ended up not seeing each because I was told if I fell, I could used to be the Naval hospital merer, who ended up knowing
other until right before our first break bones.” there, and she and her broth- Christina as well, introduced us.
anniversary. Between schools and Dee was understandably er became the quintessential She was in real estate and sug-
his first deployment we only lived depressed over the diagnosis, military brats moving all over as gested that it would be a great
together for 5 days before our and this is when Dee’s husband, her Dad’s assignments dictat- career for me to pursue. She felt
first anniversary! Ryan, stepped in and found a ed. “My Dad started on aircraft the same regarding Christina.
The couple moved on base, fitness trainer, a nutritionist, and carriers as one of the crew up When Dee PCSed (permanent
settled down, and had their two a functional doctor and worked on deck, when he tired of that change of station) to California,
children Elesia and Corbin. The alongside Dee to improve her position, he decided to become Leah came out and introduced
news came shortly thereafter health and prognosis. The couple a corpsman on a fast attacks us. She realized right away that
that they would be stationed in was determined to find a solution submarine which included some our personalities complimented
Okinawa, Japan. So, with a six- and Dee started noticing an pretty dangerous missions. Dad each other. Since we both had
month-old and a two-year-old, amazing change in how she was would come home for a few days children, and busy schedules,
they packed up and headed to feeling. “I realized how much and then be back out on his next she suggested that working as a
a new adventure far from home. it helped and decided that she deployment.” team would make life easier for
It was at this point that Dee was wanted to take it a step further The family at this point was both of us and also provide cli-
faced with a shocking medical and started classes to become a given the option to transfer ents with a team that they could
disorder. “I found out that my trainer. She obtained her personal back home to California and be count on.”
reproductive system was just trainer’s license and went on to attached to the Marines or go to There was one element that
shutting down. They didn't know earn a certificate in Nutrition. She Cuba. "Mom had been extremely they soon found would not only
why. I had been going back and started her own business Body flexible over the years, but this make them into the fabulous
forth to doctors. They sent me by Dee, in 2018 and has loved time she really wanted to go back real estate agents that they are
out in town to a specialist with helping clients recognize the home where she had family. It today, but would also give them
a translator. They did all types of positive changes exercise and was at this time that Desert Storm an incredible purpose in life. They
tests and as a result, they sent me proper nutrition can make. If you broke out and Dad was off to Oki- would focus primarily on military
back to the states early with the would like to learn more or set up nawa to be with the Marines." clients. Dee’s husband Ryan is still
kids. We were sent to California, an appointment you can contact Christina’s mom worked on active-duty military. He is a Chief
where more tests ensued, and Dee at www.mybodybydee.com base, as do many military wives, Warrant Officer 2 in the USMC
they found that I had premature At the same time, Christina, a and she had a co-worker who and is currently deployed. Christi-
ovulation failure. They told me sixth-generation Californian was just happened to have a hand- na’s husband is a first responder,
that I had a 1% chance of getting growing up with a father in the some son. It wasn’t long before serving as a Police Officer.
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