OBITUARY: Christine Elizabeth Franzeim
Christine Elizabeth Franzeim passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, March 19, 2014 in her home in Harvard. She was 67 years old. She was born August 29, 1946 in New York. In the spring of 2010 she was diagnosed with cancer. Her passing is the end of a long, hard-fought battle against the disease.
Ms. Franzeim taught at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School for nearly 30 years. She was an English teacher, and her students were primarily Juniors, but in her time at GDRHS she had the opportunity to teach an array of students and during her tenure her courses ranged from AP English to American Studies to Senior Projects and Creative Writing.
She spent her childhood and formative years in Jackson Heights, NY and other suburbs of New York until her family moved to Chappaqua, NY, where she graduated from Horace Greely High School in 1964. She attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated in 1968 with her Bachelor's in English. She returned to school to pursue her Master's. Ultimately she held multiple Masters Degrees. In 1969 she began her teaching career in Cohasset. In the fall of that year she met Steve Franzeim, brother of a college friend and they married June 19, 1971 in Mount Kisco, NY. They were devoted to each other for 43 years.
After their marriage they settled in the area. Before long Chris secured a teaching job at Acton-Boxborough where she taught for many years, and made many life-long friends. In 1978 they had their first child, Paul. Around 1980 the family relocated to Lancaster, PA but were there less than a year. They returned to Harvard in time for the arrival of their second child, Emma. It was upon their return that Chris began teaching at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School, retiring in 2009.
Chris leaves behind her husband Steve, son Paul, daughter Emma and dogs Molly and Homer. She is survived by her mother Miriam Keenan; brother John Keenan; niece Iris, and Ken Keenan, cousin; her sisters-in-law Barbara Franzeim and Widge Kent, their spouses Tim Sult and David Kent, and her niece Sarah Kent, husband Ramon and son Enrique. She is also survived by the Maguire family; Mike, Tina, Jack, Molly, Erin and Mikey who claimed her as their adopted Grandmother, a role she cherished. Finally she is survived by Vera Larkin, of Eldridge Rd, her best friend of 30 years and sister in life in all ways save blood. She will be remembered by her family at Groton-Dunstable, her Goose Rocks Beach family, her Jackson Hole family, and countless others. She touched so many people. Each day, each hour of her life, she added to the list of people she considered family and she will be missed by all her knew her.
She was an avid reader and life-long student. She loved to go for long walks on the beach in Maine, and at home in Harvard with her dogs. She was passionate about politics and art, but above all she was passionate about teaching. Her career as a teacher defined her life. Up at dawn, grading papers until 11, and throughout the summer months; always available to her students even long after they'd graduated. It was her life's work and her greatest joy.
A memorial will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday March 29, 2014 at the Bull Run in Shirley. A foundation is being established in her name to provide assistance to bright, creative high school students who require additional support to survive high school. In lieu of flowers, cards or food we ask for contributions to this foundation to continue her legacy of making a real difference in the lives of students. For information on how to make a contribution please email chris.franzeim.foundation@gmail.com.
