Christine Browne McEachern, 90, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully at her home on May 22, after a long illness. She was a longtime Palisadian, having moved here with her growing family in 1951. Christine was born on October 6, 1915, in Orange, Texas. Her early years were spent in Brownsville, Texas. She moved to Los Angeles and graduated from John C. Fremont High School. After high school, she joined the student nursing program at Good Samaritan Hospital, where she received her registered nursing degree. During this time she met the love of her life, Thomas Henry McEachern Fr., a mechanical engineer from Louisiana. They were married on December 27, 1941 at Grace Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. The completion of her bachelor’s degree at UCLA was interrupted by the birth of their first child, David, on October 6, 1942. While she stayed at home raising the children, she found time to involve herself in her local community. Thus began Christine’s volunteer life. She and her family became members of the St. Matthew’s Episcopal church in 1951. Ever active and supportive, Christine served on the Altar Guild, was the first woman on the vestry and was a proud supporter and participant in the St. Matthew’s Thrift Shop. Her husband and children were volunteered to repair the items donated to the thrift shop. Active in politics, she participated in Tom Bradley’s mayoral race, Marvin Braude’s City Council bid and the Stop Oil campaign. She was also a member of the League of Women Voters. After her children were grown, Christine went back to school to finish the degree she had started years before. She completed her undergraduate degree at Mount St. Mary’s College in 1974. Ten years later, she retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District as a school nurse. However, she never retired from being a professional volunteer, loving grandma or trusted companion. In Christine’s spare time, she loved to read, paint, watch PBS and listen to music and NPR. She also enjoyed the theater and travel. She and Tom were one of the first ones to fly the polar route to Europe. They traveled all over the globe, including visits to Russia and China. She was always engaged and always engaging. Predeceased by her husband, who passed away on October 6, 2003, Christine is survived by her four sons: David (wife Susie) of Newhall, CA, Tom (wife Christina) of Newbury Park, Jack (wife Carroll) of Santa Monica and Jim (wife Carol) of Susanville, CA; 10 grandchildren: two great grandchildren, and the family pets, Magic the doggie and Rosita the cat. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to St. Matthew’s Thrift Shop, attention Mary Muller, P.O. Box 903 Pacific Palisades, CA, 90272. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 9 at 4 p.m. at St. Matthew’s, 1031 Bienveneda. The Rev. Michael Seiler will preach.
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