March 30,2011
Dear Mr. Schebell and Sally,
  It's hard to express the deep sadness I felt upon hearing fo Christine's passing.I'll always treasure the memories of our years teaching English at LaSalle Sr.,our escapades vacationing together in the Bahamas, Spain and New York City,and our "girly" activities-shopping,lunches and giggling about anything and everything. Continuing our friendship through the years even though we lived on opposite coasts,we still managed a few visits-precious times. She not only kept me laughing, but thinking about life and all it's wonders. Christine was strong, smart, kind, caring, beautiful and worldly and my best friend for over 40 years. When I miss her the most, I won't think of the loss I feel,but by what I gained by her friendship.
With deepest sympathy and love, 
Joanne Ursano and family

Uncle Joe, Sally & family,
Please know that we are thinking of you during this difficult time.  Christine will be missed by all who knew her.  She was a special person.  Hold on to all of your memories.

To the family of Christine. We are sincerely sorry for her passing. She was a dear and valued friend and neighbor. Tom and Mike.

To the family of Christine.  I am deeply sorry for your loss.  I live at Scottish Towers in Dunedin and I got to know Christine well.  She was a very nice person and I was so sad to hear of her passing.  God Bless.

I am so very sorry for your loss.  I've heard so much about Aunt Chris over the years; she sounds like such a vibrant woman!  My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
With love,

Christine will be missed by all those whose lives she touched. May she rest in peace.

I write this today with a heavy heart; not for Christine because I know she is safely home, and by now, soaring with the angels; but for those of us who are still here and can no longer bask in the glow of her beautiful smile.  Christine was a bringer-of- light and today my world is a little dimmer without her.
I feel as though Christine was always a part of my life; when, in reality, I met her fourteen years ago at Tampa Tech High School, in Tampa, Florida.  The first day of school for a new teacher is little different  than that of any student  on their first day at any new school:  You wonder, will I make new friends;  will I be invited to sit at the “in-table” in the teacher’s cafeteria; to whom can I go to if I have a problem.  All of these questions, and many more, were dispelled when I walked into the teacher’s lunch room and met Christine Dominquez.  As I walked into the room that first lunch break, Christine must have seen that “new kid” look on my face and quickly left her chair at the “in-table” and invited me to join her and her other friends.  She, without a moment’s hesitation, invited me into her world and embraced me as she did all of her students.   I knew I had made a friend for life.  We spent hundreds of happy lunch breaks at that table and shared our triumphs and our tears.  
I was later to find out, that Christine was one of the most  beloved teacher’s at our school and that she was the “go-to” person that teachers and students alike went to with their problems.  Everyone knew that if you told Christine something in confidence it stayed in confidence.  Often at the end of the school day I would go to her classroom and there would be a line of students all clamoring for her attention.  I used to tease her and tell her that she could get rich if she only charged a nickel for her pearls of wisdom; she’d just smile and say, “You know Sandy, many of these kids don’t even have a nickel.”  She was always right-on when it came to her students.  I know that many of her students would not have had lunch money, or warm coats for our chilly mornings, without help from Christine.  She was more than just their teacher, she was their friend. In fact, we were having lunch a few weeks ago and she pulled a beat up photo from her purse and shared more of her student stories; at this time, Christine had been retired from teaching for six and a half years.  I wonder if she carried that photo for all these years.  She probably did.  That was Christine.
Christine was also a passionate writer.  I knew that during her “writing days” she was never available for lunch or shopping.  As with most writers, she became a recluse during her most intense writing phases.  But, when she emerged from these periods, she would be eager to go out into the world and collect more fodder for her next chapter.  I was especially happy to be her friend when she was writing her ARRIVAL SURVIVAL and she wanted me to join her because a new restaurant had just opened and she wanted us to try out the food and service before she included it in her book.  What fun that was.
Always an avid reader, Christine was the only person I ever met that checked ten books out from the library one week, returned them the next week and then checked out ten more.  As for her personal library, as soon as she finished a book she was looking for someone to give it to:  She seemed to always have a book to give to a friend that fit whatever need that friend was going through at that time.  If you were going through a divorce, Christine brought you a book for that; trouble with your teenager, no-problem, the next day at school Christine would give you the perfect book.  She said she didn’t need them after she had read them, they were meant to share.  That was Christine.
Another enduring passion for Christine was her family.  I felt as if I knew her darling father, Joseph, long before I ever met him.  I knew never to call her at 5:00 pm because that was the time when she called her father.  She said he lived for those calls; personally, I think she did too.  I knew never to call her during a football game, (and especially, not during Notre Dame), because she watched all the games; she told me this gave her something interesting to talk with to her father.  I also felt I knew her beautiful sister, Sally, long before I met her.  Christine told me her sister was the strongest person she knew; since I have met Sally, I have decided she was right. (You are amazing Sally.)
A few months ago, Christine came to my son, Alan’s, house for a house warming party.  There she held court, as she always did, with her wonderful way with word and fascinating stories.  During the party, she got to know many more of our friends; and invariably, they too became her friends as well. When Christine passed away this past week, I shared a text with all of them sharing this sad time in my life.  Within minutes another dear friend sent back a reply, she said: “Oh no, was she the delightful lady that walked with a cane?”  Yes, that was Christine.
Rest in Peace my dear friend.  You are sorely missed.

Dear Uncle Joe and Sally,

Christine was a very unique person. She was a free-spirit and enjoyed seeking out the finer things in life. Her thirst for this continued throughtout her whole life. She was my cousin, but she was also my friend. We enjoyed many a conversation covering everything from the family to our love of certain things. We were kind of kindred spirits in that respect. She had a continous laugh and an infectuous smile. My mother adored her.  Christine's passing was untimely to say the least. I only hope that wherever she is, it is exactly the way she would want it to be.

You will be missed!  Your friendly spirit; your warm heart; and your gift of caring.

I will greatly miss my dearest cousin Chrissy and all of the  times that we spent together. As a child, I remember riding on the back of her bike & Chrissy stopping at just about every house to talk to someone that she knew, teaching me cheers, and including me with her friends at the Memorial Pool. She always made me feel important. Our  talks, especially about the difficulties of the careers that we chose, teaching & nursing, would always end up making me laugh, as she had the ability to find humor in any situation. The holidays were always filled with excitement and great stories. Her enthusiasm, loyalty, and compassion touched all of us and encouraged us to give of ourselves and help others, just as she always did.

My Dear Friend,
I will never forget all the fun conversations we had.  For starters showing and leasing you your apartment.  You made me laugh every 
time I saw you, your sense of humor is fabulous.  I will miss you Christine.  I aso enjoyed meeting your Daddy and family. Love always, Karly

Aunt Chris was a character and a half. I'll always remember her for that. Tough loss on the family. We'll miss you Aunt Chris.

Sally, so sorry for your loss. May God bless you and your family during this difficult time.

my cousin christine was a wonderful and outgoing person.  all my memories of her only bring smiles to my face and laughter to my mind. there are so many memories of our times at grandma schebell's house and and growing up in n. tonawanda. she will be missed and loved forever by all that knew her.

Regina Hollinger (close friend)
"Hi Sally, I am really sorry to hear about Christine's passing. I have not seen Christine for about 5 years. I hope she did not suffer.
Christine was always so much fun to talk to."

More messages delivered on line:

Joy Hernandez Guido (cousin by marriage)
"So sorry for your loss. We are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers. Give Aunt Sally and Uncle Bob Our love and be strong for them. I cannot even begin to imagine how she must feel. We love you all very much. Even though we are far away we are still with you all in spirit. Let us know if there is anything we can do."

Dear Joe and Sally, We are so  sorry  for  your  loss,  I  am  pleased we were  able  to  have  lunch  with  her  just a short  time ago . We  had  such  a  good  time  talking. This was such a  shock,  May  you  take  heart  she  will  be  with  her   Mother  waiting for  you  all  with great  stories  to tell  you  ,   Sincerly ,   Ron  and  Linda

Christine has left us too soon.  My most vivid memories of her are our Bishop Gibbons days.  She was always smiling, energetic, and involved in and good at everything!  From class president, cheerleader, newspaper staff, debate club, glee club, mission club, to the drama club (she was a shining star!). 

Our talks about our wonderful fathers and how surprisingly similar they were - surprised us both.  You will be missed.

I thought I would share some notes that family members have been leaving for me.  Their relationship to my Aunt is defined within the parens:

Jordan Pascarella (first cousin, once removed) 
"This is so sad... Glad you got this photo."

Tony Schebell (first cousin) 
"We will all miss her so very much. I shared many childhood memories of her with Sally. God rest her soul."

Lisa Rudgers (niece) 
"I was remembering all the "firsts" I did with Aunt Chris when we were little: my first ride in a sports car, first taste of lobster, first visit to an art museum (Albright Knox!), first theater performance (Wizard of Oz at Niagara University), first concert (David Cassidy!). She always made it seem as if you were her girlfriend, not her 8-year-old niece, and she made every experience memorable."

Gina Marie (niece)
"I must have been left out of the Lobster night and the sports car, and I am still bummed that I didn't get to the David Cassidy concert!

Other loves and firsts that I can attribute to Aunt Chris;
...
1. Cinnamon Dentyne

2. White go go boots (from a LaSalle foot ball game when Aunt Chris coached the cheer leading squad - they all had white go go boots and they set their batons on FIRE)

3. My first trip to a professional hair salon

4. The first time I painted my nails red

5. My first chicken wings - at Rooties - also the first time I ate blue cheese

6. My first bikini - Aunt Chris picked it out in a beach shop in Florida - white with little red berries all over it - Ches had a matching toddler version (hers was one piece with a ruffle)

7. My first cigar - Ybor City with Cuban men - that was one of only two cigar experiences...sick both times...

8. Vogue magazine

9. Town and Country magazine - this was so we would know what to do with millions when we made them - I still read it!"

Lisa Rudgers 
"You were still too little for lobster night (John's Flaming Hearth) and her sports car, I'm sure! I, too, remember all the magazines and blame Aunt Christine for my inherited magazinaholic syndrome, whereby I think it's absolutely fine to spend 30 dollars at a pop on glossy new magazines, piled up in an appealing stack and just waiting to be leafed through!"

Michele Devole McNamara (close family friend)
"I'm so sorry Gee. I heard a lot about her over the years. I'm sure the above is just the icing on the memories you have. Give my best to your mom."

Michelle Vincek-Gillis (close family friend)
"Sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family."

Bobbie Trunzo-Meredith (cousin by marriage)
"So sorry for your loss...sounds like you have many fond memories of your Aunt...May God bless you all during this difficult time. Can't imagine what your mom must be going through."

Betsy Sweeney Higgins (close family friend)
"Chris was a character. The world needs more characters. We had a lot of fun with her when we were in FL w/Bob & Sal last winter. May the memories give you all peace."

Chris Marotta (first cousin)
"Christine was such a nice woman!! God bless her, she is in my prayers."

Sarah Beth Pilch (first cousin once removed)
"Such a beautiful picture! I still can't believe she is gone. She was an amazing person and so much fun to be around. Everywhere we went she always knew someone and their whole life story. She introduced me to the finer things in life too :) She loved good food and even better shopping! And she talked me out of being a teacher when I was in 2nd grade haha All of us will miss her so much! Praying for everyone ?"

OBITUARY

Christine Mary Dominguez

October 8, 1948 – February 28, 2011

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