Christina Rice, 53, passed away Tuesday, April 2, after a short, valiant battle with bladder cancer.
She was born and raised in Pinellas county and graduated from Countryside High School. She attended St. Pete College as an art student.
In her teens and early 20s, Christina was a wheelchair athlete who competed nationally and internationally, representing the US in the Junior Paralympics in Australia in the late 1980s.
More recently, Christina was the activities director at a small ALF in New Port Richey, working with adults with disabilities, a position she truly enjoyed. It was a reflection of her kind and generous heart, in a life that was filled with challenges about which she never complained.
She was a crack marksman, an avid naturalist observing wildlife in her yard, and a whiz at Jeopardy.
She is survived by her loving parents, Sharon Rice and Larry Rice, Larry’s wife Susan, her uncle Bill, aunt Jane, and many cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Shriners Hospitals for Children, or the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network .
Thomas B Dobies Funeral Home - Congress St. Chapel
Thomas B Dobies Funeral Home - Congress St. Chapel
Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park
Betty Cotton
April 5, 2024, 1:04 pm
Larry, Susan & family members,
Rusty & I send our deepest condolences, thoughts, prayers and love 🙏. Christina was & continues to be a beautiful soul.
William Barry Lemocks, Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy (Retired) ... aka ... Uncle Bill and Paulina
April 7, 2024, 6:10 pm
Paulina and I are deeply sorry for your loss and we will forever remember Christina with great fondness. Always cheerful and with a great sense of humor, which belied the challenging circumstances Christina always faced with great courage, integrity, and determination, Christina was a shining example of what it means to: “Never Quit.” Christina will not be forgotten. Rest in peace, dear Christina, in the God’s loving embrace. Your trials are over. With great love, affection and sorrow … Uncle Bill and Paulina
David & Jenn Steffen
April 18, 2024, 2:23 pm
Sue & Larry,
We are sending you extra love as you navigate through this time. I know what a blessing Christina was. I always enjoyed Larry’s stories punctuated by Christina’s witty comments. The earth has lost some of it’s shine.
Carole Lynn (Rinear) Chesser
September 18, 2024, 7:58 pm
I am so very sorry to read this news. I was telling a friend about Christina…. And about how she used to get me into trouble when we were kids. I remembered Dusty telling me she had started wheelchair racing, so I wanted to see how she was doing. How all of you were doing. I know it’s probably been 40 years….but I’m still heartbroken.
May her memory be for a blessing.