Christine E. Reitz, 86, of Hardscrabble Road in Bristol, Vt., passed away peacefully at home on October 28, 2025. She was surrounded by her family.
Christine was born to George E. Reitz and Dorothy E. (Helms) Reitz on February 12, 1939. She was born in Reading, Pa., and raised in Laureldale. Christine (Chris) graduated from Muhlenberg High School in 1956. She attended Lankenau Nursing School and graduated in 1959. She married in 1961 and had three children. In 1976, Chris divorced and continued her education, culminating in a BS in psychology and sociology from New England College.
Chris’ adventurous spirit took her from Reading, Pa., to Philadelphia, then on to Connecticut, Japan and North Carolina, then back to Pennsylvania. The family settled in Hancock, N.H., where she lived for more than 20 years. She worked as a nurse, school nurse, public health nurse, in respite care and as a counselor, always wanting to work with and help others. Chris worked in the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan for a year and then as a nurse at Joseph’s House in Washington, D.C., for a year. She lived in Newport News with her oldest daughter and family for several months before moving to Portland, Maine, until 2006. Later that year Chris moved to Burlington, Vt., and eventually settled in Bristol, Vt., in 2019.
Chris often volunteered for Bernie Sanders and humanitarian causes, including the Red Cross and the Addison County Parent Child Center. She was always there with helpful advice, kind words, a smile or a hug. While living in Japan, Chris learned traditional floral arranging. She was also an accomplished seamstress, making outfits for herself and her children. She enjoyed knitting, cross-stitch and quilting.
Christine is survived by her three children, Deborah Little (Phillip), Robert Bailey (Cate) and Donna Bailey (Nash); sister Patricia A. Gaul; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Christine was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Kenneth G. Reitz; sister Carolyn H. Schlegel; and her granddaughter Jaclyn N. Little-Withrow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Addison County Parent Child Center, the Vermont Foodbank or any charity of your choice, in the name of Christine Reitz.
A celebration of life for Christine E. Reitz will be held on Sunday, February 15, 2026, 1 p.m., at Zabby & Elf’s Stone Soup restaurant, located at 211 College St., Burlington, VT.
This article appears in Nov 5-11 2025.