Obituary of Christine Marie Needham

Christine Needham provided a lifetime of generosity and caring to those she encountered over a life that was too brief.  She was a beloved daughter to the late Alice (nee McKeown) and James P. Needham. She was the beloved sister of Mary Alice McKenna and her husband Patrick F. McKenna, Sr.  She was preceded in death by her sister Patricia “Patsy” Edgar and brother James “Jimmy” Needham.  She was the beloved aunt of Patricia McKenna-Bausch, the late Maryann Angulo (nee McKenna), Peter McKenna and Patrick McKenna, Jr.  She was the beloved great aunt of Kevin Hernandez, Kelsie McKenna, Emma Bausch, Abby McKenna, PJ McKenna, Jane McKenna and Holden McKenna as well as being the great, great aunt of McKenna Marie Hernandez.  She considered her cousins and extended family as if they were siblings and opened her heart and her home to everyone that would accept her hospitality.  Chris was very talented in making friends.  She maintained close relationships with friends from her time as a student at St. Agnes Seminary, St. Joseph’s College and Hunter College. She was well-known and well-liked in her community of Breezy Point, NY.  She was a devoted teacher, supervisor, project coordinator and colleague for over forty years at St. Joseph’s School for the deaf in the Bronx.  She made a huge impact on the student’s lives as well as their families over the course of her career and formed many decades-long friendships there.    

Chris lived a life that was full of challenges for her, but she provided a ray of sunshine to everyone she came in contact with.  She lost both of her parents in her twenties, lost siblings soon afterward, and lost her family home to superstorm Sandy.  Breezy Point was her home and the center of her universe for many years.  She was very proud to have rebuilt the family homestead and use it as the center of family gatherings.  She didn’t let serious health issues beginning in her 50’s, continuing to her passing, limit her generous spirit. Over the decades, Chris was the person her family, friends, colleagues and students would turn to in their hour of need.   She was an enthusiastic gift-giver and liked nothing more than providing others with food and fun to make their day-to-day experience lighter.  She loved entertaining and Christmas at her house was a huge treat for her siblings, nieces, nephews and their families.  She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory would be appreciated.  Here are some charities that were important to Chris.

Rockaway Point Volunteer Fire Department

Franciscan Bread for The Poor, Inc. - St. Francis Breadline NYC  Stfrancisbreadline.org

St. Francis Hospital heart center St-francis-hospital/ways-give

Forever In Our Hearts

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May Christine’s soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in Peace. Amen.

Visitation will be Friday, July 22 from 2:00 – 5:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 PM at Marine Park Funeral Home, Inc., 3024 Quentin Road, Brooklyn, NY.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 23 at 9:30 AM at St. Thomas More, Breezy Point, NY.

Burial to immediately follow in Holy Cross Cemetery.

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