Christine Castonguay

Born: October 12, 1939 – Lyndale, New York

Passed Away: December 30, 2025 – Clayton, North Carolina

Life and Legacy

Christine was a compassionate, loving, devoted, and humorous mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and sister, who brought joy and warmth to everyone around her. She took immense pride in having five generations alive at one time, a rare blessing she cherished deeply. Christine lived most of her life in New York, which she loved, before relocating to Clayton, North Carolina, in 2019.

Early Life and Family

Christine graduated from George Washington High School in Washington Heights, New York. She raised her two daughters as a single mother, often sacrificing her own needs to provide the very best for them. Her strength, perseverance, and unconditional love shaped generations of her family.

Faith and Heritage

A woman of deep Christian faith, Christine believed that Jesus Christ was her Savior and that when she passed away, she would live in Heaven for eternity. She was a first-generation Greek-American, proud of her heritage and deeply connected to it. She loved being Greek and treasured her time visiting Greece.

Generosity

Christine was a model of love, devotion, and generosity to her family, friends, neighbors, and those in need. She frequently reached out to others, including taking hungry and homeless individuals into grocery stores to buy them food, always leading with compassion and dignity.

Career

Christine was a dedicated employee of the United States Postal Service, working at the Westchester P&DC Center in White Plains, New York, where she served with pride and commitment until her retirement.

Family

Christine is survived by her daughters, Debra Lathrop (John) of Griswold, Connecticut, and Catherine Diane Iacono (Ronnie, deceased) of Clayton, North Carolina; and her sister, June Butera Pouliot (Hank) of Pensacola, Florida.

Debra and John have three children: John Lathrop Jr. (Heidi), Mary Lathrop (Jason Orenstein), and Samuel Lathrop. Yiayia’s great-grandchildren through Debra are Jaxson Orenstein and Madeline Lathrop.

Catherine’s children include Nicole Iacono, Danielle Iacono (Freddy Cruz), and Lettina Lagoa. Yiayia’s great-grandchildren through Catherine include Ariana, Micaela, Liam, Ava, Julius, Alizae, Aubrey, and Lukas, and her great-great-granddaughter, Leilani Iacono.

Hobbies and Passions

Christine enjoyed crocheting, going to the casino, playing cards, playing Rummikub, and watching General Hospital. She loved Dove’s Dark Chocolate, watching movies with her family, and especially cherished Christmas at her daughter Debra’s home in Connecticut and watching her grandsons Sam & Johnny's home videos. She delighted in sharing Chinese food with her great-great-granddaughter Leilani, listening to Joel Osteen and Dr. David Jeremiah, and making every moment with her family special.

Christine was passionate about cooking. For holidays, she especially loved preparing spanakopita, clam dip, pilaf (orzo), lamb, roasted potatoes, and escarole. Feta cheese, Greek olives, grape leaves, and calamari were among her favorites. Food was her way of uniting the family.

When life gave her lemons, what do YOU think she did....?

She made Avgolemono soup!