Christine Marie Lay

Her parents were Richard Sallade and Edway (Whitaker) Sallade.

She attended St. Augustine of Canterbury School in Belleville, IL. She graduated from Althoff High School in 1968 and attended Belleville Area College.

She did telephone work and then applied to Schuchat, Cook and Werner Attorneys and was hired as temporary summer help. She was given more responsibility as a full-time transcriptionist for the firm and rose to office manager and paralegal. She was with the law firm for 52 years before retiring in 2021.

She married Lewis Alfred Lay in 1972. They were later divorced.

Christine was very active in the Girl Scouts. In the 1970's she was a scout leader for cadets and seniors. She travelled extensively to Florida, Washington DC, New York, California, Arizona and New Mexico often with troop leader Pat Schmitt, who was also a special lifetime friend.

She was Catholic, attended church and enjoyed her faith.

Christine was honored with the Monsignor Urban Kuhl Lifetime of Service Award in 2019 presented by the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting for her outstanding service and support to the religious programs in the Diocese. Christine also received the Thanks Badge 2 from Girl Scouts of USA, it recognizes outstanding service to the entire Girl Scout movement.

Her free time was spent cheering on her favorite baseball team, the St Louis Cardinals, on TV and from the baseball stadium.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Katherine Sallade Walker of Galene, Illinois (9/23/25) and a nephew, John Douglas Walker.

She leaves behind a niece, Karen Christine Walker of Chicago, IL.

Visitation will be held at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 1910 Belle St, Belleville, Illinois on January 9, 2026 from 9:30-11 AM with Mass following, with Pastor Bill officiating.

Interment will follow at Lakeview Gardens in Fairview Heights, Illinois.

Memorials may be made to the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois.