Christine T. Reed

Christine Reed, age 66, of Wilmington, DE, passed away Tuesday, August 20th, 2024 after suffering multiple complex health complications at Christiana Care Hospital. She was reunited with her daughter, Kristin Reed; her parents, Joseph & Helen (Zielinski) Truszcienski; her spouse, John Robert Reed, Jr; and pets, Berechiah, Angel, Pee-Wee, and Thunder.
Christine attended St. Elizabeth's School for all 12 years. Upon graduation, she worked for what is now Nationwide Insurance, where she was a loyal employee for 46 years until her death.
Christine, lovingly called "Chrissy" by family and "Chris" by coworkers, is survived by her brother, Joseph Truszcienski; her children, John "Robby" Reed (Darcy Kyle), Lindsay (Blake) Draper, and her grandcat, Pumpkin S. Draper. She was most proud of her family and children, whom she supported wholeheartedly in every endeavor well into adulthood. She was looking forward to her son John's wedding and adding another daughter to the family.
When not with her family or at work, she enjoyed basking in the sun at the beach or pool, having dinner with lifelong friends, Susan Schussler Thomas, Kathy Ferrier Raduszewski, Liz Bogert Losito, and spending time with her Hershey Run community, where she resided alongside an exceptional neighbor and her mother's best friend, Florence Grenda.
Chris was a strong and independent woman who exemplified the meaning of resilience, kindness, and compassion. She was a dedicated caregiver to her spouse, who succumbed to cirrhosis of the liver in 2006, and to her mother, who had dementia, before she died in 2016, all of while dealing with the grief of losing a child tragically in a car accident in 2004, juggling work, and being a mom. Chris was selfless and put everyone above herself. Even after her passing, she continues to help others as her corneas have been donated to the Gift of Life program to help others see.
We can all aspire to live like Chris, to honor her memory by living courageously in spite of our grief and feelings of immense loss. Chris will be greatly missed by the many lives she touched.
The family would like to thank the wonderful ICU nurses at Penn Presbyterian, especially two very "special friends," Maggie Farr and Connor Castle. We would also like to express our gratitude to all our friends, family, and coworkers who offered support and grace during this most challenging time, including Tracie Johnson and Lisa Thompson.
Family and friends are invited to visit on Thursday, August 29th, 2024 from 5-7 PM at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808. A graveside service will be held for Chris on Friday, August 30th, 2024 at 11 AM in Cathedral Cemetery, 2400 Lancaster Ave., Wilmington, DE 19805.
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