Christine N. (Cellucci) Brown

Christine Nancy (Cellucci) Brown, 67, passed in the early hours of July 10th, 2025 following a long battle with scleroderma. She was surrounded by family in the peaceful atmosphere of Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln.

Born in Cambridge to Carmen and Nancy (Nardella) Cellucci on November 30, 1957, Christine met her husband Bill while attending The Bryman School for Medical Office Management. Her greatest joy was being an amazing mother and later, a wonderful grandmother. She raised three children in Waltham, while also managing to return to school to become a registered nurse.

People were always surprised that such a petite, lovely woman spent much of her career as a charge nurse in the Massachusetts prison system. She was known for going above and beyond for her patients and recognized by her colleagues for her quiet but impactful approach to leadership.

She also lived in Scottsdale, Arizona for a few years, where the sun and the beauty of the mountains captured her heart. Following an early retirement from nursing due to challenges from scleroderma and returning to Waltham in order to be close to family, she persevered by constantly pursuing ways to combat her symptoms and was able to start a successful laser hair removal and electrolysis business.

Her biggest passion outside of her family was ballroom and salsa dancing, which she did whenever she felt well enough. After first taking lessons at SuperShag Dance Studio in Waltham, she even participated in a few competitions and won!

Christine is lovingly remembered by her husband Bill, her daughter Nicole, her son Michael, his wife Alejandra, their daughter Eva, and her son Eric. Bill stood by her throughout the struggles with her health and recalls her caring for him while he had cancer. She was a selfless mother, with children who knew they were loved and supported every single day. Her time with her three year old granddaughter Eva was beyond precious to her. Long-time friends and members of her church, Grace Chapel, also remained by her side during her final weeks of life, and talked about her kind heart and ferocious strength.

Family and friends will honor and remember Christine’s life by gathering for an Evening Wake in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 from 4 to 7 p.m. 

Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning in Bigelow Chapel at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Care Dimensions Hospice House https://www.caredimensions.org or the National Scleroderma Foundation https://scleroderma.org/ways-to-give.