Charis Angelica Meandro

Charis was born on November 30, 1999 in Austin, Texas to Mark and Valerie Meandro, and was the youngest of three daughters. Her parents and her older sisters, Lauren and Allie, deeply loved her and will miss her very, very much.

Charis lived her entire short life in Austin, and grew up in the same house. She attended Veritas Academy for just over a year, and previously attended One Day Academy and Classical Enrichment Academy, supplementing her home school experience. Her Pre-K was at Legacy Oaks Christian School. She attended YMCA P.E. in Buda for two years, Saints P.E. for three years, and had many wonderful experiences during her seven years as a member of Texplorers field trip group. She attended Bannockburn Baptist Church since the beginning of this year, but had been involved there since she was very little, attending Mission Friends, GA's, choir, AWANA, and youth group. She was a member of Live Oak Bible Church most of her growing up years.

Charis took ballet and other dance classes at D'Ette Dance Company for six years, and gymnastics at National Elite Gymnastics for about five and a half years. At one point, when she was taking four dance classes as well as gymnastics, she had very strong arms and "washboard abs," of which she was very proud. Charis' other accomplishments include attending AWANA Clubs for nine years, and completing all but the last year of Austin Parks and Recreation swim lessons.

Charis had a passion for drawing and, like her dad, was fearless in all her pursuits. She could be found 20 feet up in a tree one minute and teaching herself to do back flips on the trampoline the next, or speeding down the driveway on her rollerblades, skateboard, or bicycle. She was also a fearless ice skater. As for drawing, she was gifted well beyond her years, spending hours upon hours working on her next favorite sketch. Always kind and generous, she made friends easily and she loved to take care of them. She was accepting of whomever she came in contact. Once you were her friend, there was nothing she wouldn't do for you. It was not uncommon for her to be counseling a friend late into the night. There was more than one reason her nickname was "Care Bear"; her name, "Charis", was synonymous with "care" and more importantly, she deeply cared for everyone.

She had a great sense of humor and a fun, mischievous, spirit about her. Once, mom's eyes went wide when she picked up Charis from Pre-K as Charis' pony-tale had turned into a unicorn's horn. Another time, Charis was the talk of the Pre-K class annual picture. To the horror of mom and dad, just as the photo was being snapped, Charis made perfectly formed fish lips, which forever enshrined her in the annals of Pre-K photo history.

Charis loved all animals, especially her dog, Bella, the Cavelier King Charles Spaniel. Bella was so tolerant, she let Charis dress her up in baby doll dresses and then Charis would have a tea party fit for King Charles. There were multiple dog biscuits, dog treats and even a special "dog tea" that Bella loved to lap out of the teacups. On field trips to places like Crow's Nest Farm, Charis loved to chase (and actually capture) ducks and chickens. Unfortunately, the animals left lots of scratches by the time she put them down, but to her it was worth it. It also was not unusual to find Charis holding frogs and toads and other assorted critters.

Not only did she love animals, but Charis loved to bake as well. Her favorite recipe was Mom's chocolate chip chewy bars. The whole family loved this hobby of Charis' and were happy to oblige her by eating every bar she made. Another specialty of hers was her unique "daddy" sandwiches that she presented to him as a work of art. She most enjoyed caramel and toffee flavors, almost always choosing them when she would go to her school campus café, Mocha. Charis was a proud "hot tea-aholic," raspberry and cherry being her favorites.

She loved her family and was most fond of their RV trips to parks and the coast, especially to Port Aransas, where they had many fun adventures. Charis loved catching the fish, but she was so empathetic towards them she always made daddy take them off the hook and throw them back. Charis and her sisters had great times together. They have always loved playing dress up, even as teens, and when they were younger would put on skits for their parents in the living room, making the family's long staircase the pageant runway. They incorporated music and dance, and lots of drama, with Lauren, at times, playing the piano. Charis, being artistic, seemed to have a natural knack for makeup, and became the makeup person for some of her sister Lauren's You Tube productions in recent years. Charis also loved to spend hours late into the night talking with her sisters about anything and everything.

Because Charis was primarily home schooled, she spent much close time with her parents, especially her mom. They particularly enjoyed the read aloud times, learning about and discussing God's Word, as well as learning history through historical fiction. She and her mom shared the love of drawing, sitting with a good book and a cup of hot tea, and finding interesting recipes to bake. Many people said Charis looked just like her mom, but she also took from her dad in many ways, including in her big wide smile. Charis and her dad shared in athletic dare-devil tendancies, such as in their rollerblading and ice skating, both being naturally strong physically. They also loved attending the Daddy-Daughter Ball at Bannockburn for the last several years.

As tragic as Charis' death is, we as a family believe in the sovereignty of God and trust He has a plan to bring good out of this painful loss.

Charis is survived by her parents, Mark and Valerie Meandro, her sisters, Lauren and Allie Meandro, her grandmother, Pat Meandro, her grandparents Ronald Greco and Julie Greco, and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

We would like to thank our family, including our parents, brothers and sisters, cousins, and all extended family, dear friends, and the entire body of Christ for their prayers, acts of service, and support during this difficult time. We especially thank our Bannockburn and Live Oak Church families, pastors Ryan Rush and Mark Hagen, youth leaders Travis and Megan Hogg, Kathy Kelly, Amy Ingram, Ashley Richardson, and Dawn Martinez. We also thank Carla Dillard, Kathy Spade, our Growth Group leader Steve Beatty and his wife Cynthia, Belinda Haggard, Laura Grant, and 30 year friends, Barry and Katrina Levinson.

Special thanks also to Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home and Cook Walden for their excellent services.

Visitation will be held at Weed-Corley-Fish 2620 S. Congress on Friday, October 25th from 6 to 9 pm. Funeral services will be held at Bannockburn Baptist Church at 7100 Brodie Lane in south Austin on Saturday, October 26 at 2pm. A graveside service will follow the funeral services at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park at 6300 W. William Cannon Drive, in Austin.