Christine M. Montano-Saad, age 71, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2022 at Rose Senior Living Center in Clinton Township, MI after a decade-long battle with dementia. Her family and beloved caregivers were by her side. Christine was born on September 17, 1950, in Brooklyn, NY, where she lived for the first five years of her life before moving to Madison Heights, MI. She was the oldest of eight siblings, a role she fully embraced.
Christine is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 43 years, Eugene Saad of Clinton Township, MI; daughter, Julie Saad of Washington, D.C.; son, Michael (Erin) Saad of Lewis Center, OH; grandsons, Kaelan and Rowan Saad of Lewis Center, OH; and seven siblings: Rudolph (Joyce Conley) Montano, Jr. of Royal Oak, MI; Stephen (Marianne) Montano of Royal Oak, MI; Randolph (Maria Gutierrez) of Cordoba, Spain; Joseph (Dawn) Montano of Troy, MI; Grace (Mike) Santine of Shelby Township, MI; Michael (Jo-Ann) Montano of Macomb, MI; and Donna (Michael) Severyn of Shelby Township, MI. She is also survived by many godchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends, former students, and extended family members. Christine was preceded in death by her parents, Grace and Rudolph Montano, Sr.; grandparents, Mary and Joseph Shedlock and Michael and Maria Montano; mother- and father-in-law, Verena and Carl Saad; brother- and sister-in-law, John and Eileen Saad; and dear friends, Mary Beth Celer and Vicki Tringal.
A very dedicated student and proud alumnus, Christine worked hard and excelled academically. She received a Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education from Marygrove College in 1972 and a Master of Arts in teaching from Oakland University in 1977. She loved attending Marygrove reunions and events with her classmates.
Christine began her career as an educator in 1972 and devoted 33 years to the profession and children she loved. It was something she aspired to from a young age, when she would entice her siblings to play “school” with her as the teacher. At Huron Elementary, where she spent the majority of her public service career, she was the extremely dedicated and charismatic kindergarten teacher affectionately known as “Ms. Chris.” She touched the lives of hundreds of 5- and 6-year-olds who are better for having learned from her and became an integral member of the Huron community. Even after she retired in 2006, she continued to volunteer at the school.
Christine was active in her community and passionate about organizations and causes that were close to her heart. She loved music, theater, and the arts; her Catholic faith was very important to her. She sang with the Metropolitan Detroit Chorale for 16 years, also serving as an executive board member and volunteer publicity chairperson. One of her proudest moments was performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She volunteered regularly as an usher at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts and as a lector and member of the choir at St. Michael’s Church.
Christine enjoyed bike riding, reading, sewing, tap dancing, traveling, and shopping. Like her daughter, she never missed a good sale. But most of all, she loved spending time with her friends and family. She especially loved large family gatherings and special events; vacations to Walt Disney World, Las Vegas, and Vermont; road trips across the country; and visiting her children and grandchildren in Ohio and Washington, D.C. She adopted her husband and children’s alma mater as one of her own and took great joy in attending Ohio State football and basketball games with her family, including her “dream trip” to the Rose Bowl in 2010.
In Christine’s favorite movie, The Wizard of Oz, the Wizard says to the Tinman: “A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.” Christine was the perfect example of this. She will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her.
A funeral mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 40501 Hayes Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48313. Friends may visit the church on Saturday beginning at 9 am., where Christine will lie in-state for a brief visitation until the time of the mass at 9:30. Committal will follow at the final resting place, Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, MI. To further honor Christine’s memory, the family plans to host a celebration of life in spring 2022. Details of the event will be added to this web page and shared with family and friends once finalized.
In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations made in Christine’s name to Focus Hope, Alzheimer’s Association, or the World Literacy Foundation.
