Obituary of Kristine M Merry

Kristine Merry of Endicott On Wednesday, August 18th, Kristine Merry found her eternal peace following a long battle against the complications of a bilateral lung transplant. Beloved daughter, mother, grandmother and friend, Kris is predeceased by husband, Dr. James Merry; father, Donald Howe, grandmothers, Louise Kearns and Anna Howe. She is survived by mother, Frances Howe; brothers, Daniel and Tommy Howe; and sisters, Suzanne Balles, Donna Forsyth, Patricia Schappert, Carol Zane, Nancy "Boo" Howe and Mary Ryder; sister-in-law, Patricia Merry; son, Michael Merry and wife, Colleen; grandchildren, Alec and Vivian; daughter, Katherine Merry; and son, Paul Merry and wife, Maggie. She was loved by her many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Kris attended Seton Catholic Central HS, Union Endicott HS and received her BS Psychology and Masters of Special Education from Binghamton University. Kris and Jim moved to southern Mississippi and then to northern Maine while pursuing education and goals. They discovered different cultures, new cuisines and developed close enduring friendships before rediscovering their roots in Endicott, NY. Kris worked at the Children's Unit at BU before coming to UEHS. She touched the hearts of many parents and students and was profoundly rewarded in return. She found great joy in helping people; students, friends and family often sought her out for advice, an understanding ear or the comfort of a hug. Kris loved to travel. She visited her children in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Yellowstone National Park, Seattle and explored Key West and Europe. The moments she cherished most, though, were those when surrounded by her family and friends. Throughout Kris' life, summer's pleasures were discovered lakeside. She and Jim built dreams and a legacy at their cottage on Cayuga Lake. She entertained her children and grandchildren with memories of her own childhood adventures and mischief with her siblings and cousins. She was always game to help her children and grandchildren with their own adventures; fishing, finding touch-me-nots, catching crayfish or building forts. She loved digging in her garden and then floating with a glass of wine to cool off. Funeral Services for Kristine will be held on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. from the Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home, 300 E. Main St., Endicott, NY with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10 a.m. from St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church, 212 McKinley Ave., Endicott, NY. Burial will be in Riverhurst Cemetery, Endwell, NY. The family will receive their friends on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, Kris wished for donations to be made to Second Wind Lung Transplant Association, Inc., Treasurer, 52 Mountainside Road, Mendham, NJ 07945. www.2ndwind.org