Raised alongside four siblings by a single father, she spent her childhood in Tallahassee, Florida and lived in Egypt for a short time during her teenage years, as her well-traveled father was a chemical engineer working for the United Nations.

Kris was an intelligent and accomplished woman, holding advanced degrees in English, Counseling, and Public Health. After a few years teaching English Literature at a South Carolina high school, and then many years working to establish rural healthcare infrastructure for the state of North Carolina, she ended her career at a hospital in the southern town of Danville, Virginia, serving the local community for a decade and a half.

Kris took the time to experience culture and indulge in the beautiful parts of life, as is evidenced by the many paintings and sculptures displayed prominently in her small home. She loved good food and fine wine, literature, the simple beauty of nature, music and art of all kinds, and especially travel, which was a lifelong passion that took her and her husband to four continents over their three-and-a-half decades of marriage.

More than anything else, Kris loved her family. She and her loving husband, Roger, sold their long-time Virginia home and moved up to Baltimore, Maryland to help raise their grandkids. Because of this selfless act of love, the grandchildren experienced the joy of growing up within walking-distance of their grandparents. She enjoyed hiking on makeshift trails in the woods behind Hart Road, biking along the NCR trail, and sitting at the kitchen table over Saturday morning pancakes, spending time with family. Above all, she was devoted to her grandchildren and her son; and she would often say that being a grandmother was her greatest blessing and joy. She freely offered words of wisdom on friendship, family, schooling, and career. As an extension of her endless love, she was there for every birthday party, every holiday, and really most days in general.

She was a rare and treasured gift to the world. She was the matriarch of her family who dedicated her life to the people in her care. Her pride and joy was watching her child and grandchildren grow into the people they are today.

A two-time cancer survivor, Gram-Mom passed away peacefully in her sleep after ten months of living with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), the same disease that took the life of her father who she so adored.

Rest in peace ❤