Christine Chase
September 9, 1951 - March 1, 2013
Pine Lake Resident
With a zest for life that was hard to miss,
Christine Chase brought such sparkle into the world around her. She
was the heartbeat of wherever she was and the sort of person who
drew others near with ease. Christine was a devoted wife and mother
whose greatest joy was found in spending time with the husband,
children, and grandchildren she treasured more than life itself. She
could be serious when needed, but in many ways Christine was a kid
at heart who never worried about what others thought about her. A
dear woman to so many, she will be dearly missed while her memory is
forever cherished.
It seems only fitting that Christine’s story began during a time
that was as colorful as she was. This was the decade that introduced
us to rock ‘n roll with legends such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee
Lewis while shows like I Love Lucy and Lassie entertained us as
televisions gained in popularity. It was in 1951 that a young couple
from Springfield, Ohio, was filled with great anticipation as they
awaited the birth of their new baby. Their wait was over on
September 9th of that year when the baby girl they named Christine
made her arrival. She was one of two children born to her parents,
James and Phyllis (Holaday) Swisshelm, joined in her family by her
brother, James.
In many ways Christine experienced a childhood that was fairly
typical for the youth of her generation. Her father worked for the
railroad while Phyllis was a financial accountant. Christine moved
with her family several times through the years including to
Massachusetts. When she was around the age of six her family
outsmarted the young Christine into doing chores. They dressed her
up as a maid and called her Marie. Christine thought it was fun and
accomplished many things playing dress-up.
She was a student at local schools wherever they were living and
graduated from high school in Boardman, Ohio. Christine then went on
to University of Toledo where she earned a degree in art education.
New and exciting changes were in store for Christine when her family
moved to a home in Sylvania, Ohio, next to a young man named Bob
Chase. She caught his eye right away although they didn’t officially
meet until five months later. Sparks flew from that first moment,
and with a desire to build a life together Christine and Bob were
married on September 18, 1971, deeply in love. The newlyweds settled
in Toledo, Ohio, where he worked for GM. This is where they welcomed
two children into their hearts and home, Christine and Michael.
Christine was an extraordinary mother right from the start,
nurturing her children with such care. Although she worked outside
of the home for a time, she left the workforce to remain home when
Christine was one year old.
Over the years Christine worked in a variety of industries. For a
time she was a baker at Meijer, did daycare, and she also worked at
Acklin Stamping. When her children were a bit older Christine worked
as a carrier for the United States Postal Service where she remained
working until she retired in 2006.
There were so many things that enriched Christine’s life through the
years. Pets always filled her life including their many cats,
parrots, hamsters, and dogs like their current dog, Bogey. At one
time they brought home a parrot named Smokey Joe that started
throwing around the f-bomb only when someone was on the phone. The
bird loved Christine, but only tormented the rest of the family.
Christine did quite a bit of traveling including to Hawaii and also
the East Coast when they stayed in a place that was so remote that
their kids had to call them at a pay phone outside a crab shack.
Christine and Bob also went on a cruise to Jamaica. Their family
didn’t recognize them when they stepped off the ship since they were
so tan and had gotten their hair braided. With her own creative
flair, Christine was an amazing painter and artist who enjoyed
crafts and sewing. She also had cooking skills that were unmatched,
and her baking skills were equally amazing. When her children were
growing up they never had just plain birthday cakes as they were
always impressive masterpieces. Christine also listened to classic
rock and loved fishing, putting many a man to shame.
Life became more difficult for Christine and her loved ones when she
was diagnosed with cancer. She fought it with everything she had in
her, experiencing seven and-a-half quality years. Christine was
always friendly, but after her diagnosis she became even more
outgoing with complete strangers. It was not uncommon for her to be
talking with and telling jokes to people she never met while
undergoing treatment.
It was clear to see by the way she lived her life that Christine
Chase enjoyed every minute of the life she was given. She was a
fantastic woman who was so easy to love with numerous friends whom
she treasured. Christine lived for family time, and it was with the
love of her life by her side for 47 years that she witnessed her
family tree blossom to include the generations who will proudly
carry her timeless legacy. Christine will be dearly missed.
