Christine Richey

It is with sadness that we announce the death of our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend; Christine Richey. Chris passed away at home on February 11, at the age of 101. She leaves her daughter Susan and husband Thomas Kane, her son Mark and wife Teresa, and her daughter-in-law Passang Richey. She also leaves her grandchildren Francis, Alan and Ita Kane; Natalia Richey and wife Kenzie, their children Frida and Oskar; and Passang Sherpa Richey; as well as many dear nieces and nephews. 

Chris was predeceased by her dear husband of 65 years, Eugene, and by her beloved sons, James and Peter; as well as her four brothers, Theodore, Walter, Roy and Victor. 

Chris was born May 17, 1923, in Wheeling W. Va. to German immigrant parents Valentine and Anna (Stocker) Reuther. She was raised in a socialist labor family and carried those social justice values with her all her life. She was very proud of her family’s involvement in the labor struggle, and always remained close to her Reuther family. 

Chris attended Wayne State University and Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing, graduating with a B.S. in Nursing in 1945. During her three years of nursing training she was a U.S. Cadet Nurse, helping to ease the shortage of nurses during World War II. With an interest in psychiatric nursing she spent nine months at Butler Hospital in Providence R.I. There she met her life long friend Muriel “Archie” Mitchell, and learned to love New England and the seashore. Chris was an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh when she met her future husband, Gene. They were married in 1948 and moved to Boston where Gene was enrolled at Boston University School of Theology. Chris worked at various hospitals in the Boston area, including 26 years at Winchester Hospital, where she was a staff nurse, nurse educator and supervisor. She retired in 1985. 

Our Mom lived by the German saying "Arbeit macht das Leben süss”, (work makes life sweet) She seemed happiest and most at ease doing; caring for her family, cooking, sewing, cleaning. Our Mom loved music, played the piano and sang in the Reading Women's Choral Society and the UU Church choir. She loved her UU church family and was involved in many church activities, including Liberal Ladies and Green Sanctuary. She was also an avid reader and book club member. She and Gene enjoyed traveling, including several U.S. trips with UU friends, and trips to Europe, Peru and the USSR. 

After her retirement Chris volunteered with Meals on Wheels and with the Reading Library. She loved to have visits from her cherished grandchildren, playing games and imparting to them the lessons of her long life. 

Our family is grateful for the many kind words and support of friends and family, especially Chris West, Carolyn Whiting and Ellen Childress, for the visits and the music; for the guidance and support of Dr. Joseph Taylor, Palliative Care NP Pritika and Hospice nurse Lindsey. We are also truly grateful to our mother’s caregivers; Eugenia, Francisca. Juana and Ester, who gave our mother the gift of staying in her home, and cared for and supported her unfailingly. 

Please join our family to celebrate Chris’s life on Saturday, March 8, at eleven a.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 239 Woburn St. Reading MA 01867. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading or UNICEF. 

Services are in the care of the McDonald-Finnegan-Anderson Funeral Home, Stoneham

Christine-May You Rest in Peace 
and May Your Memory Be a Blessing