Christine C. Kardokas

Christine C. Kardokas October 1943 - August 2020 One of Chris’s favorite funeral stories comes from the book Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. When the main charters will is read aloud he reminds family that the first three letters of the word funeral are F-U-N. That is the theme Chris wanted her family to follow. She wanted people to not wear black, vibrate colors only and, Saints Go Marching In to be played. Chris didn’t foresee a global pandemic causing all sorts of havoc to this seemingly simple request. Since we cannot have her funeral with family and friends we will make all attempts to tell her life story as F-U-N as possible. Christine peacefully passed away August 10th, while holding the loving hands of her husband and high school sweetheart John, as he sang “You are my Sunshine” into her ear as she drifted to Heaven. Chris and John met at North High School in Dance Class. Needless to say, getting young men into dance class was quite a big challenge. Instead of detention boys were sent to dance class as punishment. It’s long been family folk lore exactly what John did wrong to get himself into this class but in the end, the planets were aligned and he was meant to be there. Their nicknames for each other were “The Happy One” and “The Lucky One”. Chris was born to John and Anita (Preti) Coleman October 16th, 1943 in Boston, Massachusetts. When she was only a toddler her Dad was sent Europe during World War II. She and her Mom stayed with family in Keene New Hampshire, and one of her earliest memories was going down the hill to the local Church and pulling on the ropes to ring the Church bells celebrating the end of World War II and the return soon of her Dad. Upon her Dad’s return home the family moved to Worcester Massachusetts where she spent the happy part of her childhood and youth in the Greendale neighborhood. Soon after her brother Kevin was born and the family settled into their house on Crerie Ave. Both her parents, and grandparents, were avid readers and this was passed on to her and became one of the most passionate parts of Chris’s life. As young girl she loved the Madeline series of books by Ludwig Bemelmans. One of her first purchases with her allowance money was a $1.28 copy of “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery. She always felt she could relate to Anne’s passion for learning, imagination, energy, and non-stop talking. Libraries literally became her life, her love, and her career. The Frances Perkins Branch (or the Greendale Branch as it was known then) was a second home to her family of readers. Rules of the time were you had to be 14 to read the adult books and since she had gone through all the children’s books several times she took a glance at the adult books in their home. At the age of 12 she pulled “Gone with the Wind” by Margret Mitchell off the shelf and sat down quietly with book in hand. She knew there was some controversy around this book and movie so she didn’t tell her Mom and Dad she was reading it. She would dust the shelf so her parents would not see the any dust streaks and wonder why their daughter was reading this adult book with 1000 pages. Years later she realized of course her parents would have let her read it she just didn’t want to take the chance. A few weeks before she died controversy surrounded Gone with the Wind and the movie and book were in the news again. This made her want to re-read the book. Libraries were closed due to Covid so her son Andrew ordered her a new copy. Warning to people who wish to ban books: woe to those who try to come in between librarians and books. Do not fall for the meek and quiet Librarian stereotype. As Chris’s often worn t-shirt read “Don’t make me use my Librarian voice!” When her Mom went back to work her job miraculously was at the Greendale Branch. One summer, she and Kevin walked to Kendrick Pond almost every day to swim with a stop on the way home at the library goodies. When she was fourteen and got a bike she loved the freedom of going back and forth to the Branch to check out new books of adventure, romance and discovery. Her family didn’t get a television set until she was thirteen and she often credited this with her reading enthusiasm. When they did get a television she was excited they no longer had to go to the neighbor’s house on Sunday nights to watch “I Love Lucy”. Shortly after the television arrival she was in utter awe at being able to sit in her living room in Greendale Massachusetts and watch Queen Elizabeth II coronation taking place in London England. One of her funny often told memories was taking her brother to the neighborhood barbershop. When she got home if her Dad didn’t think Kevin’s hair was short enough (which was almost every time) she’d have to bring him BACK to the shop and have them cut it some more! She secretly enjoyed this because while Kevin’s hair was getting buzzed even shorter she got to read the Police Gazette and Sports Illustrated and other “men’s” magazines. When she was 15 and had a part time job at (where else) the library she bought herself a sewing machine from Sears and honed the skills of making her own clothes. She cleverly designed and sewed her own Prom dresses. Sewing became a passion almost at strong as reading. Almost. Years later, it was tradition for family and friends to have a yearly handmade Halloween costume by Chris. Sewing clothes changed over to quilting which went from hobby to obsession. Quilts were made and designed for family and friends and people in need. She joined quilting clubs, had millions of quilting books and magazines and was constantly adding to her ‘stash’. Family often said she could live three lives and still not go through all the material she had accumulated over the years. She faithfully followed the quilting mantra S.A.B.L.E - Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy! When Chris finally started working at the Worcester Public Library as a teenager she knew she had found her calling and would be there for over 30 years. She was a proud graduate of Anna Maria College and Simmons College that both helped her in her library career. She loved finding the right book for someone believing the right book would fill them with the love of reading. Her adult rule was read the book up to the page that equals your age. If you don’t like the book by them get another one. Always get another one. With kids she felt they should check out their age in books! Read. Read. Read was her mantra. She truly believed by simply reading about a subject or someone you are interested in it would be a gateway to the classics. One time she had a library patron ask her where he could find books on growing marijuana. She said to him you are aware that it’s illegal to grown marijuana. He said yes, but it’s not illegal to READ about marijuana. That was the right answer and she immediately found the information for him. Years later she became in charge of all the neighborhood branches and Bookmobile services. One of her proudest library achievements was leading the way in 1981 to opening a new branch at Great Brook Valley. This Branch is still opened today. Chris and John married October 22, 1966 and soon after Kathleen and Andrew were born. They lived on the third floor apartment on Vale Street Worcester, and after scrimping and saving they purchased their home of 30 years on Whitman Road. Although a big beautiful house in a Historic Neighborhood it was a fixer upper to say the least. Every room needed tender love and care and over many years that is just what they did and it became a wonderful family home fully of love and joy where everyone felt welcomed. One of her new found joys was decorating this large beautiful house for Christmas. As with most things that get out of hand it starts small. One Christmas tree became FIVE over the years. Five full sized Christmas Trees all with their own themes, colors, and looks. Viewing Chris’s Christmas Tree Madness became an annual event. When friends were asked to come over and help decorate they were always happily overwhelmed on what they got themselves into. Chris and John loved camping with Kathy and Andrew and always thought it was great family time and experience. Many enjoyable years were spent at Sweet Water Forest in Brewster Massachusetts. Great summer times were had at the campground pond, Nauset Beach, and fishing off of Chatham Bridge. Later they discovered Bourne Science Park where they camped seasonally on the same site (P-31) for over thirty years. They loved being with their “Camping Family” sitting around the fires, having clam bakes, and of course reading in the shade under a tree along the Cape Cod Canal. When they would go down for the weekend while they were still working she would call it their “48 hour pass.” They were one of the last in their camping family to get a television in the trailer but once cable was connected in the campground it was hard to resist. She was incredibly proud of Kathy and Andrew and all their academic and career achievements and travels. She learned about the VCR and DVD players from Andrew and fashion and world travel adventures from Kathy. Years later when Kathy met her husband Audunn this lead Chris and John to go to Iceland and learn about an exciting new culture, foods and traditions, with her new and wonderful family. While in Audun’s home town she did check out the local library and was happy to see they too use library Dewey Decimal system. She loved when family from Iceland came to visit and taking them on their shopping sprees to Walmart and the Christmas Tree Shop. Kathy and Audunn had two boys Samuel and Alexander who of course were given books on the day of their births and always taken to the library books sales. She loved being a Grandmother more than anything and loved spoiling her boys with movies, pizza, and sleepovers, and allowing them to stay up at late as they wanted. “Love them up, Sugar them up, and send them home” was a sign hanging in their kitchen that she faithfully lived by. She often quoted Mary Poppins to them saying they were ‘”Practically perfect in everyway” Chris only had one employer - the Worcester Public Library where she was an Associate Librarian. She also served at President of the Massachusetts Library Association, and New England Library Association. She was one of Founders and President of Worcester Night Worcester. Enjoyed her time as Anna Maria College’s Alumni Council for which she served as President for several years. She enjoyed working with the Girl Scouts and helping people in their Church community. She thought it was important to register to vote and more importantly to vote. She was a wonderful and comforting listener who would gave gentle advice and thoughts. She encouraged people to purse higher education to further their careers. She often quietly wrote out checks to family and friends in need with no fanfare or need to have payments in return. As smart as she was, phone technology was truly beyond her and she died still owning a flip phone. She far preferred hand writing letters and notes to family and friends who treasure them in this email texting OMG world. Around 2002, Chris and John were able to take early retirement within months of each other and they officially became Snow Birds. Camping at Cape Cod in the summer and Naples Florida in the winter. They discovered the Hitching Post campground where they made lovely and dear new friends from all over the country and enjoyed the warm weather during the winter months. While at the Hitching post she joined a quilting group, the Red Hat club and started a Book Club. Unfortunately, during the last several months of her life she encountered endless health issues and her final hospitalization really took all her energy. Spirited to the end, she made one of her famous “lists” of things she wanted John to bring to her hospital room. Her last Wish List was for him to bring a book, a small sewing project and bottle of Kahlua. John thought the first two would be no problem but not sure about number three! Chris’s last few valiant days in the Intensive Care Unit of Osceola Regional Medical Center was with the best and most compassionate medical doctors and nurses on the face of the planet. Because of the amazing nursing staff family members were able to face-time with her, and tell her how much she was loved. The Empathy and dignity they showed to Chris in her final days was overwhelming and family will be forever grateful. Family would also like to give a million thanks and hugs to the devoted staff at Davita Dialysis Kissimmee, for their care and assistance with Chris’s health. Because we are in an unprecedented time family and friends cannot gather together with laughter, love, hugs, and share stories of Chris’s life. If you would like to honor Chris, family is requesting that you purchase your favorite book(s!) and please donate them to your local library in her name. THAT would make her happy! Chris, Mom, Grandma, Aunt Chris, Mrs. K, Gram Chris, and Chrissy we love you very much and will miss you more than we know. Enjoy Heaven’s vast library where there are no late charges. Arrangements are under the care of Osceola Memory Gardens Cemetery, Funeral Home and Crematory, 1717 Old Boggy Creek Road, Kissimmee, FL 34744. 407.847.2494. www.osceolamemgds.com.

Christine C. Kardokas

October 16, 1943 - August 9, 2020