Christine Hayward

01/16/1946 - 12/19/2024

Christine Victoria Hayward died peacefully on Dec. 19, 2024, after a sudden illness. Chris was born to Jane Emily Bertoldi and Philip Talarico in North Adams, Mass., on Jan. 16, 1946. She grew up in Williamstown, Mass. as the second of seven children. In high school she earned honors in the All State Chorus and played the lead in Paint Your Wagon. Chris went on to major in English at Skidmore College, graduating in 1968. After college, she moved to New York City, got her first dog, and worked in the insurance industry. There she met Arthur D'Alanson Hayward, who she wed in 1973. Soon after Chris and Arthur moved to Tahlequah, Okla., and then to Portland, Ore., where they settled permanently and raised two children. In addition to volunteering extensively at her children's school and with the Girl Scouts, Chris also volunteered with the Clothes Closet, twice earning the Oregon Governor's Volunteer Award. In the 1980s, Chris joined the West Hills soccer league and cemented many lifelong friendships with teammates. In 1994, Chris joined the Aurora Chorus and found joy singing with a tight community of friends. Among other things, Chris was an accomplished seamstress and knitter, a voracious reader, an avid traveler, and a great lover of dogs. Chris is survived by her siblings, Susan Talarico, Paul Talarico, and Jim Talarico; ex-husband, Arthur Hayward; children, Lisa Hayward and Gregory Hayward; son-in-law, Sean Watts; daughter-in-law, Jiminie Hayward; and grandkids, Henry Folk, Ryder Hayward, Ella Watts, and Claire Hayward.
A Celebration of Life will be held at First Congregational Church from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, 2025. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Beaverton School District's Clothes for Kids Program.