Christie Lee Kmetz

With her family present and her loving husband of 30 years holding her hand, Christie Lee Kmetz was taken off life support on Sunday, January 8. With her earthly journey complete, she no doubt joined her other family members awaiting her arrival in Heaven.

Born in Portland on July 31, 1956, Christie was the first of Betty and Dick Couch’s eventual four daughters. Attending 12 years of parochial school, first at St. Thomas More, then St. Mary’s Academy, she participated in SMA’s first volleyball team to make it to the State finals in 1973. Christie then headed to the University of Oregon and joined the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Eugene was not her final destination, however, as she headed to the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center in Portland (now OHSU) to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1979.

Christie’s career eventually landed her at Legacy Emanual hospital, when in 1986, working with Legacy physicians, she did pioneering work for Emanual’s ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) program—heart/lung bypass for infants. It was exacting, heartbreaking work but Christie’s professionalism, alongside NICU staff, saved 27 infants during her tenure—infants who are now adults in their 20s. She was immensely proud of that accomplishment.

It was during that time she met Gabe Kmetz, who was assigned to the Legacy account for equipment service. They eventually married and after moving to Sammamish and Battle Ground, WA, they settled in Portland to raise their children.

Service to the community was foundational to Christie. She volunteered as a caregiver for the organization No One Dies Alone, sitting and being present with hospice patients, often throughout their long nights. She was a committed volunteer at The Madeleine, fulfilling many roles in both the church and school. And when she and Gabe moved to The Dalles in 2015, she volunteered in the gift shop at Mid-Columbia Medical Center….where she thoroughly enjoyed the firsthand look (and purchasing!) of the items offered. She loved a good party, gardened with expertise, entertained friends and family often and traveled extensively with Gabe. Even though her health declined over the past few years and rendered her unable to perform so many of the activities she enjoyed, she took it in stride and never complained. She set an example for all of us.

Christie leaves behind her husband of 30 years, Gabe Kmetz; children Westin, Anya and Joshua Kmetz; sisters Vicky Boubel, Erin Couch and Lisa Gambee; and extended family in Oregon and Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Betty and Dick Couch, and her younger brother, Ricky.

A Funeral Mass will be held at The Madeleine Parish, 3123 NE 24th Ave., Portland, OR on Saturday, March 11 at 11:00 am, with a Rosary at 10:30 am. A reception will follow in The Old Madeleine Church. A livestream of the Mass will be available on the parish’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/themadeleineparish

In memory of Christie, please consider gifts to the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (www.myotonic.org/donate) or the Mid-Columbia Medical Center’s Gift Shop Fund: email to [email protected]