Christine (Salan) Raiola, better known as “Chrissy“ of 68 Tinkerville Road, Willington, CT passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family after a hard fought and courageous battle with cancer. Chris was born in Willimantic and grew up in Mansfield, CT. Chris graduated from E.O. Smith High School where she played on the state championship field hockey team. She went on to UConn and Eastern Connecticut State University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree and rose to professional accomplishment as a Radiologic Technologist/Instructor for many area hospitals and the State of Connecticut. Many students and patients enjoyed Chris’s talents and quick whit during difficult times in the emergency situations. She always made everyone feel at ease and had a terrific smile for everyone. Chris’ favorite holiday was the Fourth of July and especially loved fireworks displays. By coincidence she met her husband Fran of twenty years on the Fourth of July at Columbia Lake. They had a great life and love together both supporting one another always. Chris enjoyed the outdoors, hiking, and was an avid animal lover, spending many years devoted to her beloved German Shepherds, Grizzly and Dakota. Chris enjoyed traveling all over the world with Fran on the many trips they took always blending in with the locals and appreciating everyone they met along the way. Chris enjoyed cooking, and considered herself a “foodie” and was extremely proud of her home and gourmet kitchen that had every gadget possible.The perfect turkey sandwich was Chris’ favorite food meal and you could always find her snacking on sour dough pretzels. Her garden, working outside and being a news junkie were Chris’ favorite hobbies. There were not many subjects that she didn’t know something about, often being sought out for information from friends and coworkers. Her positive spirit and never quit attitude helped her through her illness, always looking for the best in the situation. Chris is survived by her husband Francis Raiola, two stepchildren, Scott Raiola and his wife Jaclyn of Vernon, CT, and Chelsie Raiola of Lowell, MA. Her mother Eleanor(Salan) Willis of Storrs, CT. Her father the late Chester Salan of Willimantic predeceased her in 2005. Her sister Debra (Salan) Burns and husband Rusty of Dallas, TX, brother Joe Salan and his wife Dawn of Hebron, CT and sister Susan (Salan) Lyman and husband Jim of Columbia, CT. In addition, Chris had two nieces, Kelly and Kirsten Burns of Dallas, TX; and three nephews: Josh and Jack Salan of Hebron, CT, and Andrew Lyman of Columbia, CT. Friends and relatives may join the family on Friday, October 21, 2016 between 5pm-8pm at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Merrow Road, Tolland. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 11am at Storrs Cemetery in Storrs, CT. Memorial contributions can be made to the SPCA of Texas (www.spca.org) or the Mansfield Fire Department. For online condolences please visit www.smallandpietrasfuneralhome.com.
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