Christine A. Sulkowski

Christine Ann (Gambino) Sulkowski passed peacefully with her family on Thursday, October 7th.  She was loved by and treated with the most respect by all the many doctors, nurses, aides, and support staff at Presbyterian hospital where she had an extended stay.

 

She was a long-time resident of Fox Chapel with her late husband Harry James (Jim) Habay, but her heart never left her hometown of Braddock, PA often recalling great stores of growing up there with her siblings - MaryJane, Joe, and MaryRose.  Christine was the baby of the family, and as family lore has led us to believe she had a stubborn spirit as a child who often got her way.  Apparently, she even demanded to tag along on all of her older siblings dates and social outings.  

 

This fighting spirit is what led her to become a nurse for many years.  Her family loved hearing the stories of her years of working in the Emergency Room in Wilkinsburg, PA.   She delivered babies, performed surgery,  searched for patient who hid in the rafters, and made lifelong friends there.  She followed the path of most nurses - meaning her own child had to have a limb falling off or profuse bleeding before she would take her to the hospital because of course Mom could deal with it at home.

 

Later in life, her days revolved around her grandchildren.  She would buy them any toy they asked for ( even if their parents said no) and was always worried that her grandchildren were not being fed enough.  She would order extra treats from Schwans for the kids that they just had to have or empty the fridge and give them weeks worth of groceries.  She will be dearly missed by Max, KC, Evan, Aiden, Alaina, Hannah, and James.  She and her husband, Jim, truly were the best grandparents.  He would pull them for hours in a cart with the tractor in the yard while she set up the mud pit for them to play in after.  We think in life that was their greatest role and what they were meant to be - grandparents.

 

To her daughters and daughter in law, -  Alicia, Tiffany, and Leslie -  she was an example of what it means to be there for someone.  She could be called at any time to help with kids, make a dinner, or simply to help navigate a difficult situation.  She taught us to stand up for what we believe and accept others no matter what.  Her fighting spirit will certainly be missed.

 

If any of you were lucky enough to be at her house for a holiday meal, you knew that was where she got true pleasure.  Feeding and entertaining others.  Not only would you have more to eat that day than you possible could, but she made sure you had 3 extra meals to take home. Now, none of these meals might have been healthy, but they for sure were the tastiest you have ever had. Those take-home meals were given to everyone - family, old friends, and new.  Her spaghetti and meatballs, stuffed cabbage, and butternut squash soup will be never be replicated.

 

We couldn't end this without remembering her intense love of any animal that was down and out.  Her hand feeding them homemade boiled chicken with broth or an English muffin ( with just a bit of butter) was the norm. She spoiled her grand-puppies almost as much as her grandkids. She fought for those pets and would spend countless hours and money at the vets ensuring each pet had the best and longest quality of life as possible.  We are pretty sure that she had the stair glider installed in her house for her Chihuahua to get up and down the stairs not for herself.

 

At the very end, we told her we all would be ok to go with her beloved husband and sit in the recliners they loved so much. We asked her to give belly rubs to all the pets that we all had loved so much but passed....She took a deep breath and was gone.  We believe she is now feeding many of our past pets ground chicken, making Jim Spaghetti with meatballs, and sitting down in those comfy recliners to watch their shows.  Peace has come at last.

 

We are asking for no flowers to be sent, but instead to make a donation to seniorhearts.org in her name.  This organization out of Wexford, PA rescues senior pets and finds them new homes.  She would have adopted every old dog if she could have.  To help this organization, would be the way our mother would want to be  remembered. Friends received Tuesday 10 am- 12 Noon, WORRELL FUNERAL HOME, INC., Sharpsburg. A Blessing Service will be held at 12 Noon in the funeral home.