Maria Christina Gutierrez

Maria Christina Gutierrez passed away on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 in Naples, FL, at the age of 68.

She was born in Cuba. Due to political tensions, her family moved to United States when she was five. Leaving everything behind, she would later share a memory of her mother pinning jewelry to the underside of her dress. She then spent her childhood in Miami attending St. Lima Rose for elementary school and later Madonna Academy for high school.

Chris, as her friends at Florida State called her, truly enjoyed her college years. She majored in Sociology and had a love for reading. In her sophomore year, she met Marty Howes, whom she went on to marry. From here, they called many places home, starting with Edison, NJ. Later moving to Atlanta, GA, Jacksonville, FL and finally, Pittsburgh, PA, where her three children called home.

Chris was a devout Catholic who spent many years volunteering as a religious education teacher and sponsoring a child in Honduras. Chris sought a Catholic, private education for her children, from elementary to high school. She would become an aide or volunteer, as needed, to offset the cost.

Years later, as a single mother, she continued to pour into her children. Getting them to clarinet lessons, gymnastics and karate, while juggling a new career. Birthdays were always a priority, consisting of breakfast in bed and a homemade layered cake with chocolate icing. Holidays meant home-cooked meals and blowing the dust off the good china set.

To know Chris, is to know that gardening was her happy place. She once planted an avocado seed at her childhood home, which grew for many years; perhaps the beginning of her love of plants. She could often be found playing in her garden, meticulously shaping flowerbeds to perfection. On many occasions, she would return home with a trunk full of her favorite flowers which included snapdragons, tulips, or impatiens. It was not unusual to see her spreading 2-yards of fresh mulch on a weekend.

Chris is survived by her parents, Luis and Carmen Gutierrez. Her two brothers, Maurice [Lori] Gutierrez and Rick Gutierrez. Her children Casie [Brad] Zerbe, Alexandra [Patrick] Hill, and Jon [Fallon] Howes. She had 11 grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

There will be Mass in her honor at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church on August 9, 2024 at 10:00am. A reception and celebration of life will follow the service.