My mind is full of thousands of memories today. What to say? What to say? There are so many stories I could tell, that it would it would literally take volumes to write, & still not complete. My heart is heavy, from the loss of my dear sweet niece, the only one, & my sister’s first born. It only makes sense that I should go back to the beginning.
Brookline, Mass December 14, 1973. It was a cold day in Boston, snow had blanketed the campus. New England is so beautiful with its change of seasons. That afternoon, I remember being paged to the ground floor of my college dorm for a phone call. (Pay phones were the latest technology.) I went downstairs as quickly as I could. I was 18 years old & fairly fit, so making getting to the phone as briskly as I could, I was handed the receiver. It was my mom calling from Florida. When I said “Hello Mom!” Immediately she replied absolutely elated, “Tina had the baby, a baby girl. Jim was in the delivery room, & I was there too, right outside the door, & her her scream from from the liberating scream of finally giving birth. She said “What a wonderful birthday gift to me, her grandmother.” Her birthday is December 15th. Chrissy was always goal oriented. I remember her as a young kid, she always spoke like a ‘Philadelphia lawyer.’ She always excelled academically & was a perfectionist. The family always saw potential for Law School & to Stetson Law she went. She was always one of the most articulate & decisive people I’ve ever met. She was always very artistic, loved to cook, always healthy foods, & on occasion she’d tell me, “Uncle Steve, make sure you read the labels on everything at the grocery store. We took several family cruises together which were fabulous. It was on one of those family cruises that she surprised us after eating in that magnificent dining room of our cruise ship, that she passed out all ultra sounds & asked us to guess what the heck we were looking at. Finally, one of us, can’t remember who, shouted…. you’re pregnant! Not only was she pregnant, but pregnant with twins! Everyone was in a very celebratory mood & Jorge ordered champagne for the table. It was a glorious moment. In retrospect, when I think back at all the holidays, the birthdays, the lunches & dinners at home & in various restaurants, (especially Country Pizza Inn, her all time favorite) I remember the love, laughter, & family fellowship we all cherished. One of the most important & recent event in her life & the family’s was last summer while visiting Greece. It was a vacation & a pilgrimage to that tiny, historic Island of Ithaca in the turquoise waters of the Indian Sea. It was a special, surreal voyage to pay homage to the land of our ancestors in my maternal grandparents side. I was blessed to make the same voyage with my maternal grandmother Stella. Moving right along, Chrissy had called me several times to ask me about our great grandparents graves. I did my best to direct them to it, high up on the mountain. After several attempts, they found it & took several stunning pictures under that breathtaking Ionian moonlight. I know the souls of our great grandparents & grandparents were looking down & bestowing infinite blessings from Heaven. There are so many wonderful stories I could tell about our dear sweet Chrissy. Throughout the many civilizations that have come & gone on our beautiful Earth, each of them has a unique & fascinating way of dealing with the loss of a loved one. All the Abrahamic Religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, and all the rest each have their philosophy explaining the Cycle of Life. Personally, when I experienced the loss of loved ones; my mother, my aunt, & my grandparents, as well as numerous close friends, what gave me great consolation in that time of grief was Thornton Wilder’s play in 3 Acts, ‘ Our Town’, which highlights the meaning of life, it’s ups & downs, births, family celebration, & the loss of loved ones & the pain we endure at this time. I default to Wilder’s play because it speaks to my heart. In the Final Act, as in the FINAL ACT of our cycle of life, Thornton underscores the fact that no one really ever dies. Our Native people knew in all their ancient wisdom that there existed a Great Spiritual that was the eternal Source of Life, that created all things. To this Great Spirit, the Source of all Life, Chrissy’s soul is making its voyage. Will I miss her? No doubt, but I know her spirit will live in all of us and in the hearts of those she touched. May her memory be eternal. Chrissy, my dear sweet niece…. you’re finally FREE.

A Mother’s Love

A mother’s love like God’s
Cannot be measured
The pain of grief in loss of those we treasure
Memories of courage, hope and perseverance
Come to mind
When our families grow and love throughout many turbulent times

I watch as life throws it’s curve balls
And we dance around the hits

Sometimes, joyfully they’ve missed

But sometimes we must feel the blows, they are meant to defeat us
and we call upon our Lord God
Jesus Christ as our spirit woes us

Knowing His almighty power comes
to us
giving us His strength

With prayer, gratitude and in need
His resurrection promise
His power over death defeated

The victory proceeded

Give us the peace
for those who believe

Our knowledge and belief and faith be upon us
Gird us with the truth and light
be within us
Everlasting love,
in eternal life
in His presence ❤

Emmanuel, God with us.

Xanthe Chrisaidos

I never thought such a day would come. I always saw Chrysi as a strong, intelligent woman who always had it together. I somehow always thought she would pull through. There are many conversations that I wish we could have had. I wish we had talked more. In this sad time, my prayers are for the family, especially Jack and Jade, as they look to make their mother proud.

Chrysi was a bright light to all who knew her. She was a fierce competitor, always ready to take on the next challenge.
I’ll never forget all the fun family holiday parties at her home with all the Greek food!
She now lives in heaven with Jesus. Rest in Paradise, Chrysi!

As a friend of the family through Steve, my sincerest condolences and best of wishes are sent to all of you. Much love and much respect.

Beloved Christine, we never met, but from all the lovely words and sentimental family photos your Uncle Steve spoke to me about you and shared with me, it warmly feels as if we’ve met before. Your life was cut short, but your legacy lives on forever. Gone way too soon, but you’re still here with us in spirit. You will be greatly missed. You’re now present with The Lord. Rest in Heavenly peace, beautiful one 🙏🏼🕊️💐

“Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts heavy with sorrow on behalf of Tina and Jim, who are enduring the pain of losing their precious child. Lord, we ask that You, the God of all comfort, would wrap Your arms of love around them. In their time of need, be their refuge and strength.”

Our condolences to Tina, Jim and the entire family. May God ease your sorrow as you go through this terrible time in your life. May her memory be eternal. RIP Christine.

Brother Jim & Sister Tina,

On behalf of the entire AHEPA Family of Clearwater, our heartfelt deepest condolences and prayers go out to you and your family. Although your beautiful daughter Christine “Chrysi” has gone to be with our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, her legacy will live on through her family and many friends, “May Her Memory Be Forever Eternal”

In sympathy of your loss, to Tina and Jim.

Sincerely,
Don Gordon
Ahepa 489

Family – No matter how near or far is always family ! Our hearts go out to the entire family , her husband and daughters and her parents Tina and Jim. May God give you strength and keep her memory eternal. So young and Beautiful Chrissy ….

My dearest friend Chrysi,

You were one of my childhood besties and we had so many wonderful memories! I could write a book! I don’t think Greek School, church and high school would have been the same without you! Several sleepovers, hanging out at the mall on a weekend or cruising the beach were some of the best times and the thing to do back then! Your family cared for me like their own daughter. They got mad at us a few times also lol! Your aunt and uncle made us laugh all the time. Of course I can’t forget your Yiayia Stella, you envied her and loved her so much. We lost touch and went our separate ways as you went off to college. Then I ran into you when you were dating Jorge and you introduced me to him as your Prince Charming, and since I got to know him, he truly was your Prince. He was a great husband, family man and handy man! Thank you for the memories and great times. Your life is a gift to all that knew you, your memory will be eternal. Love you my friend. Stacy

When we lose someone we love, we must learn not to live without them, but to live with the love they left behind

I have fond memories of Chrysi at her baby shower and other fun events at her home along with her and her family. She was truly a blessing to all who knew and worked with her. You have an angel looking over your family. She is at peace now.

With my deepest sympathy,
in love and friendship,
God’s love and mine,
Carole Hanan

May God rest her soul. Wishes of courage, comfort and love to the family. Zoe se sas. Now in eternal paradise. God giving life to us all.
Blessings in memory of your loved one.
Angeliki

To Xanthe, Tina and family,
The Lord comforts and will have compassion.
Isaiah 49:13 NIV
“May God comfort you in your sorrow,.
Wishing you time to gather thoughts, to cherish memories and to feel loved by all who surround you now, as they share in your loss.”
With sympathy,
Kristine Cimmy
Ahepa 489

May God bless the family during this very difficult time. Christine Pejot was a trailblazer who made an impact on so many during her time in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, and I’m grateful to have worked with her on various initiatives.

I am very sorry for your loss. Christine made a great impact on our local school district. I am ever grateful to her for taking my call one day and taking a very challenging road that shaped my future in unexpected ways. She believed in people and their story. May God bless all of you with His everlasting peace during this time of great sadness and loss.

It still doesn’t seem real that I am writing this about my oldest and dearest friend. I remember meeting in elementary school at 4 years old , and becoming fast friends, and sharing so many good times over the years. I have memories of getting in trouble in school for talking, and sleepovers when we were very young. I can remember hanging out at Countryside mall and cruising Clearwater beach in high school. And college parties (we threw the best ones) in Palatka, and watching you perform in so many plays and musicals at Florida School of the Arts. After Palatka, we took on the big city and continued our college education at Marymount Manhattan College. I was there when you met your Jorge, and was honored to be included in your awesome, so much fun wedding! We lost touch for years, but then reconnected only to find out we both had twins! I’ll miss you tremendously, and I know I will think of you often. I have our memories to cherish, but I really wish you were here for us to make so many more. Until we meet again your BFF Jen