Christine Frances Berge

Christine Frances Berge passed away on August 30, 2025 in Roseburg, Ore., at the age of 76. Her husband of 54 years, Kermit, was by her side, along with their grandson, Kyle Boswell. A private family memorial will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20. She will be remembered at the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass on Sept. 21 at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church, 566 East Lassen Ave., Chico, CA 95973.

Born on June 29, 1949, Christine was the second of five children born to Carl Schafer and Frances Ponke Schafer in Redding, California. She grew up in Redding and moved to Chico after high school graduation. She and Kermit met at the Silver Room in Chico one Saturday night when they both arrived with friends to enjoy an evening of dancing. They hit it off immediately and were married on July 10, 1971, in Chico, where they worked hard, raised three children and welcomed six grandchildren over the next five decades.

Christine’s first job was in the copy department of the Chico Enterprise Record. She then worked as a secretary for a local title company, then at UPS before enrolling in Chico State University in her 40s and earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 1994. She taught at the Palermo School District for 20 years where she was beloved by students and faculty alike and known for being early to work and staying late to make sure things were “just right.”

Christine was an active member of Our Divine Savior and St. John’s Catholic churches in Chico, and volunteered for years with the St. Vincent De Paul Society and The Discovery Shoppe for decades, providing leadership and support for Chico’s underserved communities.

Christine and Kermit moved to Roseburg, Oregon in 2021, where she was involved with a crafting group, classic car shows, volunteering, and babysitting the youngest of her six grandchildren multiple days a week.

She was a voracious reader and loved music, dancing, making her house beautiful, playing card games (where her competitive spirit shone through) and traveling, especially to coastal towns. She was devoted to her children and grandchildren, helping them in ways too innumerable to count. She also supported a wide array of nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren at critical points in their lives and was a pillar of stability and good humor for her sisters.

Christine is survived by her husband, Kermit, her daughters Wendy (Spencer) and Jennifer (Josh), and son Jason (Casey); grandchildren Faith, Kyle, Riley, Ryann, Tyler and Owen; her sister Renee (Robin) and brother, Bryan. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Carla and Pamela.

In lieu of flowers, Christine’s family requests donations to The Discovery Shoppe, 315 Flume St., Chico, CA 95928, or to the Saint Vincent DePaul Society https://www.ourdivinesavior.org/donate (chose St. Vincent DePaul in drop-down menu) St. Vincent DePaul, 566 East Lassen Ave., Chico, CA 95973.