Christine M. Crathern

Christine “Chris” M. Crathern, 75, passed away peacefully on December 25,2024, surrounded by her family. Christine battled many health issues but eventually succumbed to the long-term effects of chemotherapy on her body from her battle with breast cancer.

Christine was born on August 26, 1949, to Edith and Charles Marshall of Concord, NH. She was number 6 of 7 children. Christine grew up in a military family, moving all over the world as a child. Eventually her family moved back to Concord where she attended school and graduated in 1968.

Christine held several jobs throughout her life including but not limited to a clerk, an accountant, and travel agent. She worked for the state of NH first in the department of health and human services and then for employment securities where she retired from. Christine loved to learn and would challenge herself. She grew up learning how to speak German and as an adult learned Italian. Between her childhood and adulthood Christine would often have trouble pronouncing words. Her family would often refer to her language as “Christine-isms”

Christine was a single mom with 2 daughters when she met the love of her life, Neil Crathern. They married in 1983, and Neil adopted her daughters in 1984 making their family complete. Christine and Neil together enjoyed the outdoors. They had a seasonal camp in Maine for many years and would often be seen out on their boat fishing together. Christine and Neil were famous for their summer gatherings at their home in Webster, NH. Their gatherings would often contain lots of food, games, swimming, and even had a bounce house. Together they loved to travel and meet new people. Christine would often meet people and lead with “have I told you I once lived in Italy for 3 years?” Christine and Neil went on a year long journey across the US in their RV and lastly visited Hawaii before Neils passing in 2016.

Christine had many passions such as going to Bingo, sometimes twice a week. She loved to gamble and was always lucky, she never walked away empty handed. She loved the ocean and would often drive there just to breathe in the air. She treasured her friends; many she had known since she was in middle school. Christine loved to eat out, especially if it was seafood. She was always up for an adventure with her family. She once swam with the dolphins in Mexico and has zip-lined with almost all her grandchildren. Christine loved her cat, Pepper. Pepper became her constant companion after the death of her husband.

Christine loved her family; they were the most important people in her life. She almost never missed an event. She was everyone’s biggest cheerleader and could be heard hollering your name from the sidelines or bleachers. She did this with her own daughters, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. Christine never missed anyone’s birthday, she could not wait to call you and sing her famous birthday song. She was kind, loving, silly and thoughtful. Christine would often pay for stranger’s groceries or help a friend out any way she could. She always believed in giving back.

Christine first began her battle with breast cancer back in 2006, she beat it. In 2016 she was diagnosed with stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer and began the battle of her life. Christine fought valiantly and was often referred to as the Energizer Bunny. She participated in many Making Strides for Breast Cancer walks throughout the years with her daughter Shelly and sister Belle, both breast cancer survivors as well. One year she was honored to hold the flag and her, and her daughter were able to march onto the field leading the way with survivors in tow up to the stage for the survivor photo. 

Christine is survived by her daughters, Laurie Dube and her husband Michael of Concord, NH and Shelly Genest and her husband John of Concord, NH. She has several grandchildren: Jordan, Brandi, John, Mathew, Kobe, Taylor and Holly and 8 great grandchildren with one more on the way. Christine has 2 surviving sisters Janet Greenly and Belle Ash and has lost 3 brothers, Robert, Alan and Charles Marshall. Christine is proceeded by the love of her life, Neil Crathern.

Services for Christine will be held on January 2, 2025, at Cremation Society of New Hampshire, 172 King Street in Boscawen, NH. Friends and family are invited to gather from 10:00am to 11:00am with a Memorial Service beginning at 11:00am. Following the service, we will be having a celebration of her life at Alan’s Restaurant in Boscawen, NH beginning at 12:30 pm. In lieu of flowers the family ask for donations to be made to Friends of Forgotten Children or the American Cancer Society. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information please visit www.csnh.com.