Christine O'Neill-Conrad

12/15/30 – 8/9/24

Christine O'Neill-Conrad of Lakewood/Steilacoom passed away on August 9th at the age of 93.

She was born Christine Gentry in Olustee, Oklahoma, and was the youngest of 19 children in a "his, hers, and ours" family.  She was raised on a cotton farm.  She was the salutatorian of her high school graduating class and lettered in basketball all four years.  After graduating from high school, she went to work as a telephone operator.  She met her first husband, Clement O'Neill, when he was stationed at Fort Sill.  They had four children and permanently settled in Lakewood, Washington, after his last assignment at Fort Lewis.

For several years she was a stay-at-home mom, and heavily involved in her children's education in the Clover Park School District.  She returned to school to obtain her Licensed Practical Nursing degree and went to work at Lakewood General Hospital.  After many years there, she went to work at Olympia Multi-Specialty Clinic, and later at Urological Consultants Inc. in Tacoma.  She retired in 2009 at the age of 78.  She truly loved being a nurse.

Christine and Clement divorced in 1990, and in 1994 she married Harvey Conrad.  She gained a new family of two stepchildren, six grandchildren, and eventually 13 great grandchildren.   She also had one grandchild and one great grandchild of her own.

She was a member of the alter guild at St. Joseph-St. John Episcopal Church, where she studied to receive the King's Cross.  She leaves many good friends from her church service.

She loved gardening and her prized rhododendrons, and she loved to sing.  She loved to travel and to go dancing at The Elks with Harvey.  She loved beautiful clothes and kept a beautiful home.  When her children were young, she was a skilled seamstress and made their clothes.  She made the best homemade pies, pickles and jams.

Christine is proceeded in death by her parents and all of her siblings and half siblings, her former husband Clement, her husband Harvey, and her daughter Rosanna.  She is survived by her children Michael, Steven, and Mary O'Neill; her stepchildren Susan (Grant) Zenkner and Bill (Suzanne) Conrad; her grandchildren Erin O'Neill, Zeb Zenkner, Annalee Zenkner, Lindsay (Devan) Muir, Alysse (Ed) Grenier, Albert (Tiffany) Conrad, and Jill (Joshua) Montero; and her great grandchildren Ayden, Zab, Zacory, Charlie, Beck, Ruby, Jane, Suzy, Deven, Isis, Zavior, Lilly, Alassondra, and Anora.

Services will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 11:00am at St. Joseph-St. John Episcopal Church in Lakewood, Washington