Christine "Chris" Contenza
August 22, 1968 ~ January 21, 2019
Christine “Chris” Contenza, 50, of Jefferson, OH, passed over to God’s Promised Land peacefully at her home on January 21, 2019. Born August 22, 1968 in Warren, PA to Ron and Elaine (Becket) Engel, she married Daniel Mark (Otto) Contenza, son of Harvey and Lucy (Prokop) Contenza (Wickliffe, OH), September 9, 1994 and earned a bachelor degree in science from Lake Erie College.
Chris had a smile that welcomed you in, like a kind handshake. She shared her good cheer as an office receptionist first at Willow Run Veterinary Clinic of Wickliffe, Ohio, and then Austinburg Veterinary Clinic, Austinburg, Ohio. Chris’s endless quest to help animals in need motivated her to become a sales representative for Penn Veterinary Supply Inc., and for Patterson Veterinary Supplies. She believed a gentle disposition and a kind word were essential and offered them to anyone and everyone, going above and beyond in anything she ever did.
Chris lived for her family, loved to cook, and could bake a mean pie. A total 80’s girl, she could be found dancing with her girls around the kitchen on any given day, if she wasn’t headed to a concert or horseback riding. She never let cancer define her and was sustained through her sixteen-year illness by the love of family and friends.
She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Daniel (Otto); daughters Zoe Ariana, Ava Francesca, and Mia Giovana Contenza; mother, Elaine Labarbera; father, Ronald L. Engel; brother, Braden R. Engel and uncle, Forrest Douglas Becket. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Forrest and Mabel Becket.
Family will receive friends on Saturday, January 26, 2019 from 4:00 - 8:00p.m. at Behm Family Funeral Home, 26 River St. Madison, OH. A funeral service will be Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. at the funeral home followed by a community celebration and potluck brunch at Lennox Community Center. Final resting place will be West Lennox Cemetery, Lenox Twp. Direct financial donation may be made to family survivors, 2708 Lenox New Lyme Road, Jefferson Ohio 44047.
Friends may leave condolences online at www.behmfuneral.com
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My heart is broken,I miss you my friend,Rest in peace,you are now pain free,you actually WON THIS BATTLE,YOU WILL FOREVER BE OUR PRINCESS OF LENOX. We will love and celebrate you always. Mr& Mrs Jerry sines
All of us at Columbia Animal Clinic send our condolences to Chris' family, friends, and co workers. I will certainly miss her visiting me at the clinic. She always had a smile, so energetic, and always had a kind word and a warm hug. We love you Chris
To the husband and daughters of Chris, I share with you that she was known widely in college of her cheerful and compassionate outlook on life. I am saddened to hear about her transition, but may she be in peace, her battle is over. May your memories bring you peace and comfort at this time and may you feel her presence with you always. Best wishes! Christie Minsterman Circle
It seems just like yesterday that I was braiding her horse LC for the horse shows where has the time gone. My condolences to your family you were such a wonderful person! Linda Simon
Dear Ron and family, Please accept my deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to you and the family , in the loss of your loved one. Sending prayers for strength and healing. Love, Cheryl Wilkins Clark
Ron our Deepest Sympathy John & Diane
You have my deepest condolences on your loss. The Apostle Paul wrote at 1 Corinthians 15:26 that ‘death is an enemy’. We find this to be so true, as death robs us of friends and loved ones, but we can take comfort in his words recorded in the book of Acts 24:15 “that there is going to be a resurrection”. The Apostle Paul was not only talking about the things he saw but also repeating what the Lord Jesus Christ said as recorded at John 5:28, 29 that there would come a time “when all those in the memorial tomb would hear his voice and come out.” These words can bring us the comfort that we will be reunited with our loved ones in the near future. A future where there is no more pain, suffering or death (Revelation 21:4). This is a promise from Jehovah God (Revelation 22:6). Please go to http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/when-someone-dies/ for more information.