Christine G. Pacocha

Christine G. Pacocha, 73, of Longmont, Colorado passed away on December 17th, 2024 after a short stay in the Neurological ICU of St Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood, Colo. There—while surrounded by her husband, children, and sister—she succumbed peacefully to an injury caused by a brain aneurysm sustained on the morning of December 9th while caring for her horse.

Christine was born on March 26th, 1951 to Elizabeth (Duprey) and Rene Goyette at Backus Hospital in Norwich, Connecticut. As the middle child of three, she grew up in Eastern Connecticut on the border of Rhode Island in the surrounding hills and on the water of Beach Pond. On Beach Pond, horses became her solace from the challenges of life. She found her vocation early, when a nearby Aunt with infant twins broke her leg; then ten-years-old, Chris stepped up and dutifully helped provide daily care to the children.

During her years at Griswold High School in Jewett City, Conn., she faced adversity that solidified her resolve as a caregiver and defined her personal strength. Despite challenges, she maintained her standing as a member of the National Honor Society, graduating from high school 1969. She became the first in her immediate family to earn a college degree; graduating from the nursing school at the University of Connecticut in 1973.

She took her first job at Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford, Conn. where she found deeper responsibilities on the hospital’s new geriatric care floor. Chris would go on to care for people as a registered nurse for 32 years, working in hospitals, nursing homes, home health care, and finally as an elementary school nurse.

In 1973, Chris met Frank J. Pacocha. The two would date then marry in 1976, beginning a 48-year partnership. In 1979, the couple would have a son, Matthew, then a daughter, Elizabeth (1982), and settled in Glastonbury, Conn. In the late ‘90s and early-2000s, Chris’ children moved west to Colorado. She and Frank followed, relocating permanently to Longmont, Colorado in 2006.

In Longmont, Chris rekindled her passion for horses and found a place in Colorado’s Front Range equine community. She lived her dream and became a full-time ranch woman. Chris volunteered her time, fostered and cared for her own horses, and in 2008 welcomed her first grandchild to the family. Much as she started life, Chris went on to be a part of the daily care of all four of her grandchildren. Her children, her grandchildren, her horses, her family and friends were always the most important parts of Chris’ life and she cared for them physically and emotionally to her very last breath.

Chris was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Frank, her brother Joseph Goyette (Manchester, Conn.), her sister, Linda Person (Milton, Mass.), her children, Matthew and Elizabeth, and her four grandchildren, Jackson, Max, Sofie, and Juliet.

Chris’ family invites all that knew her to her wake and viewing, which will be held at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry Street, Longmont Colorado on Thursday, January 2nd from 4pm to 6pm, followed by a Rosary. Her family and Catholic parish invite her friends and family to a funeral mass that will be held at St Francis of Assisi, 3791 Pike Road, Longmont Colorado on Friday, January 3rd at 10:30 am followed by a reception in the church’s community room.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St Anthony’s Hospital. St Anthony’s is a non-profit hospital with a Level 1 trauma center. Chris experienced their extraordinary care and it would be her wish that others have the same opportunity. https://give.commonspirit.org/stanthonynorth/donate