Christine C. Fong, age 72, passed away after suffering complications from an autoimmune disease in her lungs. While she fought bravely and courageously, her lungs became too fragile to sustain her. Her loving family was at her side when she slipped away. Christine is survived by her husband, Terry, her children Michael and Kimberley, and many nieces and nephews.

Christine was a native of Sacramento, attended Sacramento High School, and graduated from Sacramento State College (now CSUS). She also worked as a teacher’s aide at David Lubin Elementary School.

Christine met her husband, Terry, when they were both in the same kindergarten class. Their lives took them in different directions, but their paths crossed again 25 years later. After reconnecting, they married and were married for more than forty years. They had two children, Michael and Kimberley. Christine felt happiest and fulfilled when caring for her family and supported them in all their interests and school activities. Ever the kind-hearted and generous caregiver, she also cared for her grandparents and her mother when they needed additional help later in their lives.

Life and Times

As a young girl, Christine enjoyed listening to music on her transistor radio. Always with great taste, she was an early fan of the Beatles, even before their debut in the U.S. on the Ed Sullivan show. While she was an original devoted Beatles fan, she loved lots of music and enjoyed listening to many groups throughout her life from the 50s and 60s to the 80s and 90s up to the latest hits.

In addition to music, Christine also had a lifelong appreciation of the visual arts. She had an open mind and was interested in a wide array of work, classical and modern, from paintings, ceramics, textiles, high fashion, to folk costumes and furniture. She loved seeing them and would often visit the museums to catch a glimpse in person.

Though she would have been too modest to admit, she herself was also an artist. She was an accomplished seamstress and while pursuing an Art degree at Sacramento State, she won an award at the California State Fair for a quilt she had made. At home she used her sewing talent to design Halloween costumes for her kids, as well as to mend and alter their clothes. A simple clothing patch would become a subtle work of decorative art only known to the wearer, making them smile whenever they noticed the fix. Outside of home, she was also actively involved with the Sacramento High Band Boosters and the Mandarin Drum Corp helping alter uniforms and designing costumes for performances.

Aside from trips to the museum, she always enjoyed taking trips to the ocean with her family. At the ocean, she would spend the day walking along the seashore, watching the waves, or wandering over the tidepools, then finishing the day with dinner at a favorite seafood restaurant. On special occasions, she would order a classic Coca-Cola, but no meal was ever complete without a dessert. She had a fondness for sweets, particularly cakes and pies.  Often on these outings, Christine loved to stop and browse in thrift stores and gift shops. Always looking for unusual treasures or collectables, she would often find something unique for her friends.

When at home, Christine could be found gardening, doing crossword puzzles, or reading. She particularly loved murder/mystery stories, having read all of Agatha Christie’s novels. She really enjoyed the British TV series Poirot, and thought David Suchet best personified Agatha Christie's super sleuth.

While Christine left us far too soon, we will always be reminded of her because all that she loved remains all around us. We will remember her in the songs of Paul McCartney, the beautiful paintings in the museums, the quilts she sewed on our beds, the beautiful sunsets over the California coast and even a classic glass bottle of Coca-Cola. Her whimsical lighthearted nature sweetened our days and her gentle love warmed our lives. She is greatly missed by her family and friends.