Christine Marie Munshower

Christine Marie Munshower returned to her birthplace, Indianapolis, to attend a family event and while there died after a brief illness on December 2, 2023. She is in Heaven having a reunion with other Munshower family who have gone before her; mother Katherine (Ashcraft) Munshower and father Wm. Glenn Munshower, brothers Reverand William Glenn Munshower, Dr. Frank Forrest Munshower, Dr. John Thomas Munshower, big sister Anne (Munshower) Delaney, brother-in-law Richard Delaney, nephew Bernard Delaney, dear friend Barbara (Dowden) McCurdy and many aunts and uncles.

Chris was born on January 9, 1947 and charmed the entire neighborhood on Pershing Avenue. She baked cookies with the neighbors after they called in her absence to school. She played kickball and softball with her St. Anthony's classmates, and she was a well-rounded student, trying out for school plays, cheerleading and sports teams.

After attending Indiana University and receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she moved to the Phoenix area to be near her sister Anne. She began her career in nursing at Good Samaritan Medical Center on the oncology unit in 1972. She had to go home, pull out a dictionary, and look up the meaning of oncology as it was a new specialty. She had found her professional niche for the next 45 years!

She made lifelong friends of patients, colleagues, and their families. She has been described as a mentor, an advocate for her patients, always making everyone feel loved and needed, one of a kind, always compassionate, and always laughing. She was respected by all. Chris had her own challenges with cancer at least four times. These experiences only strengthened her commitment to the caring and support of those on the same health journey as she.

Work wasn't all Chris knew how to do; she also knew that she needed to have balance in her life. She backpacked the Grand Canyon trails extensively, rafted the Colorado River several times, hiked the Milford Trail in New Zealand, hiked the Sacred Peaks of China, bicycled Ireland, and Maine, and hiked the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska/Yukon. Chris and friends drove the dirt Alaska Highway twice, and even managed to make it to the Arctic Circle. She accompanied family to Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania. She met with Mother Teresa on her trip to India and was charged with helping to care for the nuns who belong to the Missionaries of Charity. She always had her priorities right!

She leaves behind her sisters in law, Marcia (Ward) Munshower and Eileen (Doherty) Munshower and her lifelong friend, housemate, adventure companion, and co-conspirator of 45 years, Selma Kendrick, who has spent endless hours driving from wildlife spot to wildlife spot, acquiescing to the most recent new pet fetish, hiking from canyon to valley (and back again), correcting the alignment of quilt squares, rolling tamales, and facilitating family and friend parties. She will continue to honor Chris's legacy.

Her extensive family were all important to her. She will be missed greatly by her 1st Cousins: Susie Ashcraft Marshall (Tom), Mary Kay Ashcraft McKibben, Judy Ashcraft, Steve Ashcraft, Barbara Munshower Imel (Steve), Regina Munshower Leone (John)

She was adored by her nieces and nephews: Kathleen Munshower Forte (Tony), Jane Munshower VerValin (Steve), Teresa Munshower Miller (Carl), Frank Munshower (Susan), Eric Munshower (Judy), Maureen Delaney Simon (Joe), Rebecca Delaney Visconti (Frank), Shaleen Delaney Brewer (Bill), Justin Delaney (Marisol), Najla Munshower (Jon Neumann), Rachel Munshower Fox (Scott), Juliette Munshower Tiriolo (Frank), Wm. Glenn Munshower (Anjuli Crocker).

Beloved by her great nieces and nephews: Joseph Forte (Lindsey), Juliana Forte, Maxim VerValin (Morgan), Artem VerValin, Elena VerValin, Shaleen Miller, Emmett Miller, Kellen Miller, Ellen Munshower, Teresa Munshower, Audrey Munshower, Jayne Munshower, Nathan Munshower, Allison Munshower, Patrick Visconti, Nicholas Visconti, Grace Delaney, Jacob Delaney, Katherine Brewer Malham (Ryan), Andrew Brewer, Ian Delaney and Ava Delaney, Madilyn R. Munshower Neumann, Harrison F. Munshower Neumann, Ean M. Munshower Neumann, Hannah K. Munshower Neumann, Christine Marie Fox, Charles Fox, Frank Tiriolo, Sophia Tiriolo, and John Tiriolo.

Cherished by her great great nieces: Margaret Christine Malham and Lydia Forte.

In addition to her friends and family, she has always been surrounded and will be missed by her dogs, birds, and tortoises.

After a life spent state hopping, globetrotting, and generally gallivanting, Chris died where she was born, Back Home Again in Indiana, and incredibly, receiving wonderful care from the oncology nurses at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Oncology nurses always have a special bond of caring and compassion.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 am Saturday, December 16, 2023 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 377 N Warman Avenue. Visitation will be held from 9 am until the time of services at the church.

Celebration of Life to occur in Phoenix at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Chris's honor to Cancer Support Community Arizona, https://chrismunshower.givesmart.com/

Online condolences may be offered at usherfuneralhome.com