Christine (Amiel) McDaniel (1943-2018)
MCDANIEL, AMIEL, RIVES, SMITH
Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13
Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.
Obituary for Christine McDaniel
Chris was born in New Orleans, LA January 17, 1943 to Henri Joseph Amiel and Hallie Rives Amiel. She grew up in New Orleans, Newburgh, Indiana and New York City among other U.S. cities. Due to her father's occupation (the CIA/catholic charities) she then traveled to Austria at age 9 where she spent three years living in and having the run of hotel in Vienna becoming the favorite of every staff member. After a brief stay back in the U.S. Chris next moved to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, a city she dearly loved for the rest of her life, where she spent her teenage years. Her final international move was to Madrid, Spain where she graduated from Madrid High School in 1960, being active in pep squad, the school annual, and the Senior play. She attended the University of Illinois where she met and married Thomas J. McDaniel. They moved to Ames, Iowa where TJ became a professor at ISU. She was a dedicated mother of four children. She was very active in all of her children’s activities including Girl Scouts, 4-H, and became the first female in Iowa to be a Boy Scout Pack Leader. She found lots of ways to make the monthly meetings fun with new games, ways to earn badges and ran umpteen PineWood Derbies. Chris also spent many hours gardening a two acre garden and then “enjoyed” canning and freezing the bounty.. The family went to Alaska for family vacations where she enjoyed reading to the family during the long hours of travel, particularly all of the historical markers. She canned fish and jelly from the Alaska coast, but most of all she loved Alaska’s beauty.
After the scout years, Chris returned the ISU to pursue a degree in English. For one year she moved to London to take classes in Shakespearean History and Plays where she developed a love of the arts that would last the rest of her life. She move to St. Louis and worked in healthcare for 20 years. While there, she formed a friendship with a close group of friends that had quite a social life; they traveled, went to plays, concerts, art displays, and had colorful political conversations. They made her into an avid Cardinals fan (although during football season, she was a loyal Steelers fan!).
She decided to return to Ames where she became immersed in family activities, being the G-ma, ISU athletics, and supporting the arts including plays at the Civic Center, CY Stephens, Fisher Theater, and the Actor’s Studio. In her later years, Chris also frequented Heartland Senior Center. There she played Bingo, Bunco, Canasta, and did art activities and short day-trips to see the Iowa Cubs. Along with these activities, she loved her family and pets, reality TV, football, cooking shows, art-house movies, tennis, Star Wars and Star Trek. She had a kind heart and donated to multiple charities and causes. Chris loved laughing and truly enjoyed life!
Chris McDaniel is survived by her brother, Paul Amiel (Lisa); her children Kathy McDaniel Smith, Jim McDaniel (Lisa), John McDaniel (Chris) Michael McDaniel; her grandchildren: Daniel Smith, Forrest McDaniel, Christopher McDaniel, Stephen McDaniel, Zackary McDaniel, Kendra McDaniel; and nieces Marie Amiel, Claire Amiel and nephew, Reid Amiel.
Chris was preceded in death by her father, Henri Amiel, her mother, Hallie Rives Amiel, and her sister, Lucy Amiel.
A Celebration of Life will be at the Heartland Senior Center on Monday, December 17, 2018 from 12:30-2:00. Please share a story or memory of Chris. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Ames Animal Shelter or a charity of your choice. Please join us. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Adams Funeral Home and online condolences may be left at www.adamssoderstrum.com.
http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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