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Christine Patyna
Aug. 3, 1923 — May 6, 2011
MONTROSE — Christine Patyna, age 87, of Montrose, passed away early Friday morning, May 6, 2011, at the San Juan Living Center in Montrose. A fascinating visitor from Texas changed Christine Patyna’s life. Millie, her best friend from high school, had a beau stationed in Texas. On leave, he brought with him a paratrooper friend who was convalescing at a base hospital. Millie introduced him to Christine. His name was John, but everyone called him Pat. It was love at first sight. After surgery on his leg in Texas, Pat was discharged and returned to Toledo to marry Christine. Christine grew up in Toledo, Ohio, one of four children. She was only 12 when her mother died. Her father ran a Greek restaurant, but cared for his children and kept the restaurant going until they were grown. After their mother’s death, all pitched in. Christine’s oldest brother, Ted, went to work. Her two younger siblings, Bill and George, raised and sold rabbits. Christine took over cooking and cleaning house for her family.
After their marriage, Christine and Pat lived with her father and young brothers. Pat attended night school at Toledo University, where he earned an engineering degree. He went to work for the Sam C. Early Company, as an engineer. Christine joined the Lasalle Company (now Macy’s) as a cosmetologist. She was sent to the Helena Rubenstein School of Costmetology and earned a degree in Costmetology. In 1955, Pat was hired by Continental Aviation to design tooling for jet engines. Three years later, he was offered a job by the Gilro Company, in the San Francisco Bay area and was hired as manager of the tool and dye department. The family moved to California. Fran, their only child, was 12 years old and went to school to finish the sixth grade, later finishing her education in California.
When Fran entered college, Christine went to work at the Montgomery Wards, where she headed the cosmetology department until she retired after 25 years with the company.
After Pat retired, he continued consulting as a metallurgist designing tool and dye programs. The couple took a number of trips to Europe, Morocco and Hawaii; but their most enjoyable trip was to Greece, the land of Christine’s ancestors. There they visited friends and family, as well as national landmarks. Pat died 14 years ago of colon cancer. After retiring from executive careers in California, Fran and her husband, Bob raised and sold horses in California. Christine enjoyed riding one of their horses named Maggie. They delivered several horses to a buyer in Montrose and fell in love with the country, moving here nine years ago.
Christine had moved to Arizona, where she and Pat had a second home. It was near her brother, Bill and his family. She lived there five years, then decided to move closer to Fran and Bob. She sold her home in Arizona and moved to Montrose five years ago, where she lived in the Glens until coming to Sunrise Creek about a month ago. She was in time to participate in the decorated door contest. Hers won the “Sweetest Award.”
At Christine’s request, cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date in California. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.
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