Mary Christine "Chris" (Lahey) Green 1952-2013

LAHEY, GREEN, SCHMITT, MCCUSKER, LINKLATER, KEPPLER, FOSTER, HEISLER

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 8/6/2017 at 23:32:12

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa - Mary Christine "Chris" Green, 61, of North Liberty, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. In the early morning, the angels came to take Mary Chris Green to her place in heaven "¦ her well-deserved new home. Chris was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer almost three and a half years ago, and with the grace of God, the love of many, and most of all her amazing spirit, this beautiful lady continued to embrace life and those she loved until the angels came and the Heavens opened to greet her. If one were to imagine the first words Chris might speak to Jesus, it would be "Thank you, Lord, I am so grateful for all you gave me." And grateful she was.

In keeping with the theme of her life, in gratitude for the gift of Chris, we invite you to share with her family a tribute to her life, which will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at St. Thomas More Church, Coralville, where friends may call after 9:30 a.m. We would love you to join us. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Chris Green Memorial Fund.

Chris was born Mary Christine Lahey on March 8, 1952, daughter of loving parents Robert (RR) and Mary (Schmitt) Lahey. She grew up in Farley and went to grade school and high school at St. Joseph's in Farley. She had an easy small town life, a loving home and the right amount of siblings to torment and to have fun with. She had good friends and learned early to love life and to laugh often. For her childhood she was very grateful.

After graduating high school, she became a CNA at Heritage Manor and then went to Area One Technical College to become a secretary. She married the man of her dreams, and they later settled in North Liberty, where she worked hard for several years, at Shive-Hattery, as an in-home day care provider, at Iowa Medical and Classifications Center, and at the Johnson County Department of Human Services before her retirement in 2010. For love, adventure, hard work and retirement, she was grateful. Chris gave birth to three amazing children, Josh, Elissa and Jessica. To watch them grow and to experience the love of a mother was her greatest joy. Through the good times and when they were a bit more challenging, her love was unwaivering and unconditional. Through her example, she taught them what it was to live with integrity, faith and fortitude. For motherhood and her blessed children, she was grateful.

At the age of 34, Chris heard the words for the first time, "you have breast cancer." It would be a diagnosis given to her four times in her lifetime, and each time she fought to not just stay alive, but to fully live. And fully live she did. To her family, Chris is our hero because she has taught us how to live, to laugh and to love without reserve. And through her example, we learned to be more grateful for our blessings as we saw her be so grateful for hers "¦ so grateful that she lived long enough to see her children grow up after her first diagnosis, grateful for seeing four granddaughters being born and for their precious hugs, grateful for each day she was given the opportunity to give love and to be loved in return, and grateful for all those who helped take care of her. In the last months of her life she continually spoke these words, "I am so grateful, I have been given so much."

To say that this amazing lady will be missed by those who love her is an understatement beyond words. To know Chris was to know of her great wit and love of life, her thoughtfulness and kind ways, her insightful wisdom, her delicious bad habits, and that wonderful, wonderful laugh. But though she will be missed, we will move forward as she taught us to live"¦with gratitude. We are so grateful for the gift we had in her, and for each precious moment that we were given to be with her in this life. We know that she has left us in one way, but will remain with us forever in many other ways.

She will live on in the hearts and memories of her children, Dr. Josh Green, of Detroit, Elissa Green, of Coralville, Jessica (Jake) McCusker, of North Liberty, and her beautiful granddaughters who gave her the greatest joy, Eva Linklater, Mirabel and Clara McCusker and Amelia Green-Irving. She also will live on forever as the "beautiful hero" to her sisters, Anne Lahey, of Iowa City, Gerarda Lahey-Keppler (Tony), of Epworth, Rita (Johnny) Foster, of Austin, Texas, and her brother, Rob (Deb) Lahey, of Farley; her aunts, Margaret Heisler, of Farley, and Loann, and Uncle Marc Lahey, of Epworth; and her admiring nieces and nephews, who thought the world of their Aunt Chris, and she thought the world of them in return. She will expect from them a party in her honor"¦a really good party!

In Heaven, Chris was greeted with open arms by those who had gone before her - her mom and dad, her grandma and grandpa Nick and Christina Schmitt, and Grandma and Grandpa Richard and Sophie Lahey; her brother who died at birth, Michael Richard; her nephew and niece, Jerimie Lahey and Kristin Keppler; and many aunts and uncles. The vision of them together is a beautiful one "¦ and no doubt, Chris is grateful for it all and laughing with joy at her new life "¦ one that would have to include a good cup of coffee and the perfect steak for it to be truly Heaven.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.

Our dear Chris, we will live in the promise that "Those that believe in the Lord never see each other for the last time." So until we see you again "¦ thank you for being so special to us all. We love you so very much and always will. And thank you, God, for the gift of Chris. We are so, so grateful. Eternal Rest Grant unto our beautiful Chris.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Friday, August 30, 2013