Christiana Souza Obituary (1952 - 2025)

Christiana E. Souza, 73, died peacefully at home on Saturday, June 21st, with her devoted husband Philip by her side. Christie was born to Edmands P. Lingham and Priscilla W. Lingham on March 6, 1952, in Munich, Germany while her father served in the CIA in post-war Germany. She moved back to the US with her family in 1954, living in Ashland, MA for a few years until her parents bought an old fixer-upper in Framingham, MA which they poured heart and soul into renovating. Lovingly dubbed ‘985’, Christie’s parents raised their four children at 985 Pleasant Street and Christie went on to graduate from Framingham South High School class of 1970, as a member of the National Honor Society. In 1972, Christie met the love of her life, Philip J. Souza, while sitting in the Boston Gardens as she waited for her broken-down car to be fixed. Christie and Phil were married June 24, 1973, in a beautiful backyard wedding at 985, hosted by her parents, surrounded by family and friends. They moved to Somerville, MA where they later went on to have two children, Jonathan and Elizabeth. In 1986, Christie and Phil purchased their beloved A-frame on McGrath Pond in Oakland, Maine, where they spent weekends and summers. Christie, having already earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, went back to school at age 40, graduating from Somerville Hospital’s School of Nursing and earning her RN, something she was incredibly proud of. She worked nights for many years in Somerville before transferring to MaineGeneral Hospital in 1999 when the Souzas moved to Maine full-time. Christie was incredibly smart and being a nurse came naturally to her, given her thoughtful and compassionate nature. She cherished her time working at MaineGeneral, especially on 2 Central, where she formed many lifelong friendships. Christie encouraged her children to attend college in Maine and was extremely proud of her son Jon, who went on to become a master electrician, and her daughter Liz, who followed in her mom’s footsteps, becoming a registered nurse. Christie cherished her time on McGrath Pond and threw herself wholeheartedly into conservation efforts for the local lakes. A trailblazer, relentless in her work and vision to protect water quality in McGrath Pond and adjoining Salmon Lake, she led the 2017 MPSLA Watershed Survey and the group dedicated those efforts to Christie. She continued being actively involved with her local road association, which she co-founded, and with the Seven Lakes Alliance, up until her illness hindered her ability to participate. She retired from nursing in 2013 and in 2016, was elated to welcome her first and only granddaughter Clarice, who brought such joy to her life up until she passed away. Christie thoroughly enjoyed her first few years of retirement – she traveled to Florida to visit friends, went on an extended National Parks trip with Phil, and spent nearly 2 weeks in Alaska with her family before she was diagnosed in 2017 with paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia, an extremely rare neurological disease. The disease took a toll on Christie over its seven-year course, but her husband Phil never left her side, lovingly caring for her until the very end of her life; Christie passed away three days before their 52nd wedding anniversary. Christie was predeceased by her loving parents, Edmand and Priscilla Lingham, and sister-in-law, Amy Lingham. She leaves behind her husband, Phil, her son, Jon, her daughter, Liz Kingsbury and husband Tig, and her granddaughter, Clarice Kingsbury. She also leaves behind the Lingham and Souza families plus numerous friends, who all loved Christie endlessly. The Souza family wishes to thank Lori-Beth Gerow, and MaineGeneral hospice, especially Lynda, RN and Erica, CNA, who cared lovingly for Christie for years. At Christie’s request, no funeral service will be held. A celebration of Christie’s life will be provided by the family later this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Christie’s honor be made to: The McGrath Pond - Salmon Lake Association at https://www.mcgrathpond-salmonlake.org/donate2/ Services are in the care of Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church Street, Oakland, Maine.