Christine Theresa Werling

Chris was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Eric Mansfield and Marguerite (née Hunter) Mansfield. A few months after Chris was born, Marguerite passed away. Eric later married Helen (née Stapleton) Mansfield, who became the mother Chris knew growing up. Chris had many fond memories of growing up in Detroit with five younger siblings and her extended family, including her five paternal uncles. She loved to tell us about how much fun the extended family had on trips to Lake Orion and Sand Point, Michigan.

After graduating from Dominican High School, Chris attended the University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Nursing, graduating at the age of 21. A friend arranged a blind date for Chris with a sailor named Robert (Bob) Werling, who was serving in the U.S. Navy. They fell in love and got engaged on Christmas Eve, 1953. They were married in the fall of 1955 and began their Werling family adventures, which included moving the family many times due to Bob’s career in aerospace.

With a two year old and an infant, the Werlings’ first move was to San Diego, California, and their second was to Santa Maria, California. Soon they were headed to Brigham City, Utah. A few years later, they were back in California: first in San Jose and next in Lancaster. Then came a cross-country move to Rockledge, Florida. Once again, Bob was transferred back to the west coast to Santa Maria. During these years, four more children were born to complete their family. After eight years, there was one more transfer to Merritt Island, Florida, and, thankfully, this move was not followed by the arrival of another baby. After Chris’s husband Bob passed away in 2001, she moved to Viera, Florida. With each move, Chris established a new home and made many new friendships. In 2015, after 38 years in Florida, she joined her daughter in Cary, North Carolina.

Chris was a loving wife and mother who volunteered to help with many of her children’s extracurricular activities. She taught us how to live well by her example, which continues to guide us as we journey through the stages of being parents, in-laws and grandparents.

Chris is remembered for her faithfulness, fearlessness, love of fun and loving care. A devout Catholic, she served as a Eucharistic Minister, bringing Communion to those who were unable to attend Mass. As a young wife with an infant son, she cared for her father-in-law as he lost his battle with cancer. Chris later cared for her husband, Bob, through his terminal illness, as well as both of her parents. Her children knew how much she loved them, and her home was always open to any of their friends who needed a place to go.

Chris wasn’t afraid of anything, whether it was braving an alligator to get her boys’ fishing poles back, or jumping into the middle of a shark-infested ocean to untangle fishing lines from the prop of a boat. She was calm in any crisis. Her quick wit, bright smile and playful sense of humor will always be missed. Even as dementia robbed her of so much, she never lost her smile and sweet temperament. In her memory, we sing our family anthem: the “Mighty, Mighty Werlings” song, which she adapted from a Girl Scout song.

Chris is survived by her children: Bob and his wife, Bev; Chris and her husband, Richard; Patti and her husband, Paul; Mary and her husband, Richard; John and his wife, Toni; and Jimmy and his wife, Cindy. Chris is also survived by 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and four siblings: Eric, Mary, Patricia and Kathy.

Chris was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bob; her parents, Marguerite, Eric and Helen; and her brother, Bob.

A visitation and Rosary will be held Sunday, November 3, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home at 200 Southeast Maynard Road, Cary, NC, 27511.

A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, November 4, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Church at 804 High House Road, Cary, NC, 27513.

We will also honor Chris with a Celebration of Life gathering November 4th, following her funeral mass at the Lewis home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Donations are accepted at the association’s website, alz.org.

Memorial tributes and messages of sympathy can be left by clicking the "Add a Memory" box below. Brown Wynne of Cary is honored to serve the Werling family.

WE ARE THE WERLINGS

We are the Werlings

The mighty, mighty Werlings

Everywhere we go

People want to know

Who we are, so we tell them

We are the Werlings

The mighty, mighty Werlings