CHRISTINE O'RIADA Obituary

Christine O'Riada, sweet friend, mother, and founder of the O'Riada Academy of Irish Dance, passed away the morning of April 11, 2013, peacefully and surrounded by family, in Belfast, Ireland. Christine grew up in Belfast with her three sisters and three brothers. She received her TCRG (certified Irish dance teacher) when she was just 21 and came to the U.S. as part of a trio of dancers touring with an Irish band. The lead singer's sister was a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Christine came to visit and ended up enrolling at UMKC herself. She formed an Irish dance club at Queen of the Holy Rosary school when her twin daughters were in second grade. The club eventually became the O'Riada Academy Of Irish Dance. Christine returned to her Belfast home in 2010, and continued to serve as an adviser to the dance academy she founded. She loved life, dance, coffee and hot drinks in general, chardonnay, crossword puzzles, books, toasted cheese/tomato/avocado sandwiches, Bo Ling's, Kansas Jayhawks basketball (especially watching the games with her girls), collecting Irish Santa Claus figurines, ceilis, seisiuns and outings with friends, and much, much more. She had many "Christine-isms" including: "to make a long story short"; "bloody hell"; "you silly goose"; "drive safe, you've got precious cargo in there," and "that's neither here nor there." She once got out of a speeding ticket by telling the officer she was just driving to the speed of her music, which was 100 percent true. Welcoming her to the big ceili in the sky are her twin sister Patsy, brother Sean and her parents. She is survived by her "little monkeys," Tara and Ciara, and siblings Maurice, Joe, Anne and Sheelagh. Visitation and Mass will be at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, 7023 W. 71st, Overland Park, KS, Monday, April 22, 9-11a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Christine O'Riada Memorial Fund for the Arts at any US Bank location.

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Published by Kansas City Star from Apr. 17 to Apr. 21, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for CHRISTINE O'RIADA

10 Entries

Karen Saberi

March 19, 2014

Dear Tara and Ciara,
I remember so well the Irish dance practices and performances while my daughter Kristen Saberi was a student at QHR! She loved Irish dance, Christine, and her girls! What a fun time that was watching you perform and taking 1st place in the St.Patrick's Day parade! I'm so sorry to hear of her passing but, I know she's in Heaven now, dancing with the angels! May God bless you and your family.

Joanne Provyn-Brown

April 29, 2013

I just learned the sad news and only wish I had the right words to say to Ciara and Tara. Your Mother had impact in so many lives - not the least of which was through her heritage and gift of Irish dance she shared with our children and so many others in the first Irish Dance group at QHR. I will ALWAYS remember her with love, respect and absolute admiration. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Susan McCalla

April 24, 2013

My sister, Kathleen, and I took Irish step-dancing from your Mother in the 70's. We loved it and loved her. I remember her calling us "love" and "pet" and letting her cigarette ash burn an inch long. When your grandmother would visit, she and Christine would share a twin bed in her cool, little apartment on Brush Creek on the Plaza. She was a lovely woman, a beautiful dancer and an enthusiastic and fun teacher.

Dee Coleman

April 21, 2013

I met Christine many years ago at Penn Valley Community College when she tried unsuccessfully (through no fault of her own) to teach me a short tap dance routine for a play. She once even helped me get out of a parking ticket, because she babysat for the officer who wrote the ticket. I have no idea what she said, but it worked. Even though we lost touch shortly after that time, I still thought of her often and felt proud that I had known her everytime I heard her name or saw bits of her student's performances. She was a lovely person and I'm sure is dancing with the angels.

April 21, 2013

My condolences go out to your family....I worked with Christine years ago when I was the Philippine commissioner for the Mayor's Ethnic Enrichment Festival...I enjoyed working with her when we were doing the stage presentations for the annual festival held in Swope Park every August...I remember her watching her dance students with a big smile on her eyes and giving the kids encouragement from the sidelines....My sympathy goes out to your family at this time.

Celeste Ongjoco-Gomez
Shawnee, Ks

Maggie Bradley

April 19, 2013

James and I send our love to you girls. We are so sorry you have lost your precious mother. We loved to visit with her and loved the way she spoke. But mostly we loved to see her dance and watch her teach her young dancers. My cousin learned to dance with Christine and now my daughter is learning from one of her champion students. The legacy of Irish Dance she has left upon this city will live for generations.
Thank you Christine. Rest in peace.

Sara (nee Byrne) Meyers

April 19, 2013

Resquiescat in Pacem, Christine. You are greatly missed, prayed for, and loved by so many of us whose lives you touched and we are forever grateful. The two beautiful sweet girls you gave to the world make it a better place. You helped so many of us to be proud of our heritage & brought alive the tradition of ancestors. You were always welcoming and encouraging to even the least of us. Because of you all seven of our children are called, "Lovey" and like Irish dance music. You, Ciara, Tara and your family are in our prayers. God bless you, Christine.

April 18, 2013

Ciara and Tara, I was your babysitter when you were newborns and for about your first four years. Your mother was a truly remarkable woman and maybe the hardest worker I have ever known. I am heartbroken to hear of her passing. I had not seen her in many years but thought of her often. Love to all of you. Jennifer McLellan

Cathy Overton

April 18, 2013

Christine was a wonderful dancer and an even better dance teacher! I count myself so lucky to have known her and to have taken lessons from her!

Patricia McAulay Heitschmidt

April 17, 2013

Our family sends our love and prayers to Christine's family, especially Ciara and Tara. I know she is celebrating at Our Lord's Heavenly Banquet with her family and friends who have gone before. God bless you.

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