SHERBURNE – Christine L. Cahill, 88, of Sherburne, passed away Thursday, July 21, 2011 at the NYS Veterans Home, Oxford.
She was born Dec. 16, 1922 in Sherburne, a daughter of Peter and Roseanna Doyle Lawrence and was a 1940 graduate of Sherburne High School. On May 31, 1947, Christine married Joseph Cahill in St. Malachy’s Church, Sherburne. He predeceased her on Dec. 23, 1991. Chris was a Sherburne resident for her entire life and was a mother and homemaker first and foremost. She was School Tax Collector for the Sherburne School District while her children were young. Eventually, she worked as a secretary for I.L. Richer for many years, then worked for the Mirabito Fuel Group until her retirement..
Christine was a communicant of St. Malachy’s Church and a member of the Altar and Rosary Society. She was also a member of American Legion Post #876 Auxiliary, Sherburne.
Surviving are her children, Kathryn and Richard Bensley of Whitney Point; James and Patricia Cahill of Amherst, Mass.; Michael Cahill of Marietta; Anne Marie Parry of Sherburne; Sharon and John Follett of Norwich; Loraine and Anthony Distefano of Rochester; brother and sisters-in-law, Raymond and Judy Lawrence, and Dorothy Lawrence, all of Sherburne; 10 grandchildren, Kimberly (Jason) Somers, Sara Bensley (Theo Zainal), Megan and Kevin Bensley, Andy and Jeffrey Cahill, Christy (Eric) Abduhl; Nicholas and Lucas Follett; Danielle and Alexis Distefano; 4 great-grandchildren, Noah, Sarah and Hannah Somers, and Ayla Abduhl; several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by four sisters, Mary, Catherine, Margaret (Boyer) and Anne Lawrence; and four brothers, Joseph, James, John and Bernard Lawrence; a granddaughter, Katie Bensley and a great-grandson, Joshua Somers. Her family and faith were the driving force throughout her life. Her spirited nature and family values will live on through her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am from St. Malachy’s Church, Sherburne. Interment in St. Malachy’s Cemetery will follow the Mass.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Monday from 5-8 p.m. The rosary will be recited at 4:45pm.
Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Malachy’s Church, PO Box 722, Sherburne, NY 13460; or to the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY, 441 W. Kirkpatrick St., Syracuse, NY 13204.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.