Christina Joanne Sari

Christina Joanne Sari passed away unexpectedly at her home April 25. She was 59. Chris was born Dec. 20, 1965, in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to parents Paulette and John. With her father in the Air Force, Chris spent much of her childhood in different states, including Illinois and Alaska, before returning to Klamath Falls with her mom and sister. She attended Henley Middle School and High School, where she met Mike, the love of her life. After having three kids, Megan, Ashley and Miles, Chris attended Oregon Institute of Technology, earning an associate's degree, while working two part-time jobs to pay for college and raise her kids. Later in life, Chris went back to school and earned additional credentials from Chemeketa Community College and Portland State University. For most of her career, Chris worked in the medical field, giving many years of service to Sky Lakes Medical Center, and most recently, Klamath Orthopedic Clinic. Chris always said she was born in the wrong generation - she longed to live in the hippie culture of the 60s and 70s. In her heart and soul, she was a flower child through and through, and she expressed it through her love of tie-dye shirts and Volkswagen Bugs and Buses. She adored her blue Bug, and while she could barely see over the steering wheel, she drove that car with pride and passion. Though she stood at just 4 foot, 11 inches tall, Chris had a towering personality. What she lacked in height, she made up for and then some with her charm and sense of humor. You always knew when Chris was in the room because of her laugh. She had a refreshing directness, and she never shied away from telling you like it was. People could always count on her to tell them what they needed to hear, even if they were not ready to hear it. Chris had a number of interests and hobbies throughout her life. She participated in Henley's track and field and FFA programs, and was a lifeguard at the YMCA. She did martial arts for several years, enjoyed walking, hiking and camping with her soul sisters, watching Oregon Ducks football and basketball, and going to concerts, including her favorites George Strait, Elton John and Pink. Most recently, Chris became more politically active and explored starting a podcast examining the experiences of women in rural America. But what Chris will forever be remembered for is her deep love for Boston Terriers. Following in the footsteps of her grandparents, Chris had five Boston Terriers that were by her side through good and bad. She loved them as much as her kids, and it brings her family great comfort to believe she is reunited with them. Chris also leaves behind a collection of Boston Terrier keepsakes that her family will treasure as they try to make sense of life without her. Chris did much in her 59 years, and she survived more than any of us could. With retirement on the horizon, Chris wanted to spend more time with her grandchildren and take them to Disneyland, travel to see her family, swim with dolphins, learn to surf in Hawaii, relearn how to play cribbage, and just take it easy after so many years of work and hardship. She had much, much more life to live, and her family is devastated she's gone so suddenly. She was preceded in death by her mom Paulette Banes; stepmom Debara Whalen; and stepbrother Gregory Banes. Survivors include her husband of 34 years, Mike Sari; daughters Megan (Matthew) Hansen and Ashley Sari; son Miles Sari, Ph.D. (Brenden Higashi); grandchildren Easton Hansen and Paislee Palmer; stepdad Kenneth Banes; dad John Whalen; sister Shannon Whalen (Ed Martin); stepbrothers Robert Banes and David Banes; father and mother-in-law Julio and Marie Sari; brother-in-law Matthew Sari; sisters-in-law Angela Collar (Dave Collar) and Marian Banes; an uncle and numerous aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews; and her Boston Terrier, Angel. Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, at Davenport's Chapel of the Good Shepherd in Klamath Falls. A private burial will occur at a later date at Klamath Memorial Park Cemetery. Flowers may be sent to the chapel.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Christina Joanne Sari, please visit our floral store.