Christopher Curran "Chrissy" Lydick

Christopher Curran Lydick, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, died at home in Jackson on July 17, 2024 with her devoted husband and son by her side after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease.
Chrissy was born on December 11, 1948 in Yazoo City to Hugh Joseph Curran and Gloria Nelson Curran. The second of five children, Chrissy enjoyed a wonderful childhood in Yazoo City with her siblings, many cousins, and dear friends. She attended St. Clara Academy until its closure after her 11th grade year, at which time she transferred to Yazoo City High School. She quickly acclimated and was voted as one of her class beauties as well as Best Dressed. Chrissy then attended the University of Mississippi, where she graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. At Ole Miss, she met many of her lifelong friends, with whom she remained close for the rest of her life. Chrissy was beautiful, fun-loving, and kept her friends entertained with her quick wit and great sense of humor. After college, Chrissy moved to London where she nannied for a young family, with whom she kept in touch for many years. She lived in Denver for a short time with some college friends before returning to Yazoo City, where she taught English at Yazoo City High School. She then worked at Deposit Guaranty National Bank for several years before marrying and becoming a homemaker, which was a role she cherished.
She met her future husband, Walter Edwin Lydick Jr. on a blind date to the Mississippi State Fair on October 10, 1973. He captured her heart by winning her a prize at the football toss booth. While they were on the double ferris wheel that evening, she asked him to not turn their cart upside down, which he of course proceeded to do. Chrissy knew their life would be full of surprises and adventure from that moment and spoke of that evening often. Chrissy and Walter married on June 24, 1978 and were delighted and surprised to discover they were expecting twins two years later. During her pregnancy, Chrissy dreamed that she was having twin girls, a brunette who looked like Walter and a blonde who looked like her. That dream came true later that year on October 27. They were surprised yet again to be expecting a son, due exactly two years later on the twins' birthday. Chrissy delivered him one day early, but three birthdays one day apart meant lots of celebrating. Chrissy delighted in throwing creative birthday parties at home, which have become cherished memories for her children.
Chrissy was a devoted member of her church, the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. She served in many roles there over the years and met some of her dearest friends there. She treasured her women's circle group and was an inaugural member of the flower guild. She enjoyed arranging flowers for many parties, including special celebrations for her grandchildren, even after it became difficult for her. Chrissy had a love of beautiful things and enjoyed decorating and frequenting her favorite antique shops, fabric stores, and lamp stores. She had her "usual stops" that she and Walter would always visit, whether they were on their frequent trips to New Orleans or visiting their daughters in Birmingham. Her love language was sharing fabric swatches and decorating ideas with her daughters. Chrissy had a keen eye for details and enjoyed sharing her creativity and talents with those she loved. She loved any time spent with her friends, especially the ladies in her Tiger Book Club, the Belhaven Garden Club, and the Brook Garden Club. She was an avid supporter of the arts, particularly the USA International Ballet Competition, continuing the legacy of her late father-in-law, Ed Lydick.
For years, Chrissy served her community through her involvement in the Junior League of Jackson and her children's schools. She was a mainstay at school events throughout the children's years at St. Richard and St. Joe, and all of their classmates remember Chrissy's warmth and kindness. Chrissy always encouraged her children to show inclusion and kindness to everyone they met, and she certainly led by example. But most importantly, Chrissy taught her children to love God, to serve in and faithfully attend church, and to develop a strong prayer life. Chrissy kept many prayer cards as well as her rosary close to her on her bedside table.
Chrissy considered her three children and seven grandchildren her greatest achievement in life. She adored and was immensely proud of her grandchildren, always thinking of special ways to show her love to them. She loved each unique personality well, taking the time to get to know their individual interests and investing time and attention to each one. She never tired of hearing cute and funny stories about her grandchildren, often wanting them repeated over and over.
Chrissy considered her husband to be the best thing that ever happened to her, and her family was blessed by the example of love and devotion they both shared. Walter cared for Chrissy tirelessly and selflessly and was a true example of having a servant's heart in the way he showed devotion to his wife.
Chrissy was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Michael James Curran II, and Suzanne Curran; and her grandsons Joseph Robert Hey and Peter Louis Hey. She is survived by her husband of 46 years; her daughters Mary Louis Quinn (John) and Christopher Hey (Craig); her son Walter Edwin Lydick III; her grandchildren Margaret Curran Quinn, Sallie Catherine Quinn, John Michael Quinn Jr., Mary Sinclair Hey, Eliza Becket Hey, Samuel Wilkinson Hey, and Henry Stafford Hey; siblings Hugh Joseph Curran Jr. and Mary Theresa Curran (Michael Waxman); her sisters-in-law Mary Lydick Rogers and Janie Lydick Purvis (Joe); and her nieces and nephews.
Chrissy's family would like to thank the staff at Covenant Caregivers for their dedicated care over the last few months. The Lydicks would also like to extend their most heartfelt gratitude to Annie Williams and Ida Turnage for their unwavering devotion and loving care of Chrissy and her family over many years.
Chrissy's life was celebrated with a funeral mass on Friday, July 19, 2024 at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. Memorials for Chrissy may be made to the Parkinson Association of Alabama, P.O. Box 590146, Birmingham, AL 35259, or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741, or online at those organizations' websites.