69, of New Port Richey, FL, passed away on Sunday, March 18th. She was born on April 2, 1948 in Milwaukee, WI. She was raised in Marquette, Michigan in the heart of the Upper Peninsula. Her career started as a teacher, then stayed home with her 3 children. She loved teaching and eventually went back to college at Northern Michigan to get recertified as a teacher. Upon graduation, she was recruited at NMU for teaching positions in Florida. So, she packed up her kids and 2 dogs and made the move to New Port Richey in 1987. She taught in the classroom for many years for Pasco County Schools. She eventually became an ESOL (English as Secondary Language) resource teacher and taught other teachers until her retirement.
Kristine loved many things. She was an avid sewer like her sister Cheryl. She took up scrapbooking and created many travel albums. Camping in the U.P. was a must during the summer. She was fortunate to travel during the summers with good friends. She wanted to see the U.S. first before going anywhere else. She made it to Hawaii in November, 2016 with Aunt Adelyn. She would hop on a plane or jump in the car. She always had stops along the way, visiting her sisters, cousins and family in Michigan, returning to the U.P. and seeing long-time friends. She always made it up for Heidi’s boys’ births in Michigan.
Kristine was a teacher, mother, sister and had a plethora of great friends made through her life. There are many to list, but special thank you’s for making Kristine’s life fun and interesting go to Arita, Betty Sue, Jo, Bobbie, Cindy and Cheryl, and Liz, Lissette and Diane. Aunt Adelyn is a family cornerstone and was surrogate Mom to Kristine for decades after her own mother passed away.
Kristine was very close with her 3 sisters. They had sister weekends even though they lived in different states. Beth and Cherie with the middle ones and Kristine and Patti were the sister ‘book-ends’.
So much can be said to describe Kristine and her impact on people’s lives. She gave her heart on her sleeve, opening her door for them to stay for however long.
Most of all she loved her 9 grandchildren. She was called Mema. She attended their baseball games, school functions, religious events or any family affair. She had “Mema” days where she would take 1 or 2 and do something special for the day with them. Tea parties with the girls or movies with the boys.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Lorraine Contois; sisters, Beth Contois, and Cheryl Zwanzig. She is survived by her children: Heidi (Mark) Ostrowski, Spencer Larscheid, Kirsten (Arthur) Lorenzo; grandchildren: Riane, Jack, Jacob, Logan, Matthew, Jordan, Cadyn, Jayden, and Dylan; sister, Patti (Jeff) Aurentz; stepmother, Anita Contois, and special aunt, Adelyn Quilliam; many nieces, nephews and cousins. A visitation will be held on Friday, March 23rd from 5-8pm and a funeral service on Saturday, March 24th at 2:30pm at Blount & Curry, 605 S. MacDill Ave in Tampa, FL, 813-876-2421. Visit the family’s online guestbook, www.blountcurrymacdill.com.
