Regis College - Mount Regis Yearbook (Weston, MA)

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All of us, each in our special ways, were the recipients of the love that she gave so readily. Her sensite, caring nature made her a very special part of our lives. We thank God on this day for the gifts that came to each of us through Chris’ willingness to be a ‘truly giving person.’ It ' s the soul afraid of dying . . . that Never learns to live. Chris would not have been afraid of dying. She would have shared all of the uneasiness that each of us would experience when we consider in our imagination the moment of our own death. Chris would have shared the anxiety that each of us would feel at the prospect of entering into the ‘unknown reality’ of death, but from knowing Chris, I believe with confi- dence that she would not have feared death because she was a person of firm faith. She believed strongly in the love of God and His promises to her. She would have faced death with the firm conviction that this moment of death was not only the ending of this life, but more importantly the beginning of a new and better life with God. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow and pain this morning. We experience the deep hurt of separation from someone we have loved and whose place will never be filled by another. Our faith offers us consolation and hope, but it cannot take away the hurt. We hurt deeply because we have loved deeply. It seems that the darkness of this moment is impenetrable and the struggle ahead too much to bear. Once again, the lyrics of THE ROSE seem to speak to our experience. When the night has been too lonely. And the road has been too long. And you think that love is only For the lucky and the strong. Just remember in the winter Far beneath the bitter snows Lies the seed that with the sun’s love In the Spring becomes the Rose. Funeral Homily by Rev. William T. Schmidt

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HOMILY . . that never learns to danjde. . . that never takes the chance. - ■ . . who cannot seem to gi e. V ' - that never learns to live. i , ' These lyrics are taken from one of Chris’ favorite songs, the Rose. The lyrics capture and reflect many of the beautiful qualities of Christine’s life that we remember arid appreciate this day. The lyrics would have challenged Chris, as she challenged herself, to inake the most of every day of her life. • • • it’s the heart afraid of breaking . . . that never learns to danoe t hns Wsd a person who did learn to ‘dance’ in the important sense that she was able to t e the extraordinary gifts and talents that God gave her and develop them to the fullest. She put her talents and abilities to use in a way that brought a sense of fulfillment to herself and joy to others. All of us took special joy in sharing with Chris those special moments when she utilized her talents on stage. Her singing and dancing was a precious reflection of the life within her that she desired to share with others. It’s the dream afraid of waking . . . that never takes the chance. Chris was a person with dreams. She looked to the days ahead of her with enthusiasm and hope. She had dreams of what she wanted her life to be, but she was also willing to work hard to bring those dreams4;o reality. Her dreams never became an “escape” from the real world, but instead an invitation to enter more deeply into the real world. It’s the one who won ’t be taken . . . Who cannot seem to give. Chris was above all else, a giving person. Her openness and generousity were natural, completely spontaneous attributes within her life, Chris’ willingness to give to others was never deterred by any fears that others might take advantage of her generousity. She knew that the joy that was rooted in giving-for- the-sake-of-giving, and did not look to what she would receive in return. Within her family, ier group of friends, her Church and her School, Chris’ presence was always reflected in her villingness and eagerness to give of herself. It’s the heart afraid of breaking . It’s the dream afraid of waking . It’s the one who won’t be taken . And the soul afraid of dying . . .

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