Christine Marie Spinazzola, age 80, of Mesa, Arizona passed away on April 12, 2023 after a prolonged illness. She had a full life and will be deeply missed by all those who knew her. Christine was born on July 4th, 1942 to Camille and Chester Wroblewski in Detroit, Michigan. After graduating from St. Regional all girls catholic school she married the love of her life, Fredrick Joseph Spinazzola on July 4th, 1959 at the age of 17. They were married for nearly 64 years.
Christine and Fred moved to the suburbs of Detroit to Romeo Michigan where they had four children and she is survived by them, Teresa Marie Ramey (Ronnie Dunn), Faye Anne Rys, Anthony Joseph Spinazzola (Barbara Ann Spinazzola) and Sheri Lynn Spinazzola (Ande Cogsdill). She was blessed with six granddaughters, Shawna Marie Bush (Cricket Pearson), Sierra Nicole Spinazzola (Brandon Wright), Caitlyn Delaney Spinazzola, Jessica Wright, Kate Ritzert (Ryan), and Elizabeth Hoag. She had four great grandchildren, Maddie, Maya, Max and Ramona. Also survived by her brother Richard Wroblewski (Kathy) and sister Sue Ulbrich (Steve).
Christine enjoyed living on their farm raising their children and also breeding, training and racing thoroughbreds. She loved watching the baby horses be born and staying up all night waiting for them to arrive. It was very exciting for her when the horses would win and she’d end up in the winner’s circle. She said these were the favorite years of her life. She relocated with her husband to Phoenix, Arizona in 1985 where they purchased a beautiful home in Mesa and she lived the remaining years of her life.
Christine loved to spend time in San Diego next to the beach watching the waves with a cup of hot tea and lemon in her hand. She loved going to concerts, watching tennis and always loved shopping, especially finding great deals. She could shop for hours and hours. You could call her a shopaholic. She adored her yorkie, Munchkin, who was her shadow everywhere she went, they are now reunited. She enjoyed traveling, especially to Italy, a once in a lifetime trip, thanks to her son Anthony. She even attended Mass at the Vatican with her daughter Sheri. A dream come true for her.
She loved her grandchildren so much and was very proud of all their accomplishments. She was grateful to watch them grow up and build close relationships with them. She took in her granddaughter Shawna at the age of 12 and raised her as her own creating an inseparable bond for life. She’d always said “it’s me and you kid”. She took pride in the achievement of her granddaughter Sierra who graduated with a BS in physiology and was recently accepted to a Master’s program in the same field. Also, for her granddaughter Caitlyn graduating with a BS in physiology. Both graduating from the University of Arizona. She adored her daughter-in-law Barbara who she developed a close relationship with through the last 26 years. She was grateful for the love and delicious dinners Barbara cooked throughout the last 17 months of her illness. She always said that if her son didn’t marry her, she would’ve adopted her. She was very grateful to have such a charming son-in-law, Ande, who she loved very much. She loved his charisma, his jokes and all the music he’d play for her. She especially loved his thoughtfulness and generosity.
She loved reading, crossword puzzles, playing cards and dining out with friends and family. But most of all, she loved her family with all her heart and would do anything for any of them no matter what the ask. She was definitely the glue of the family and there will always be a void now that she’s gone.
Christine was a very caring, sweet, kind, and generous person. Anyone who had the honor of meeting her instantly loved her. There was something about the light that she shined that was contagious to those around her. She was the strongest person we were all so lucky and blessed to have in our lives. She went through a lot in life and was a fighter like no other person. She wouldn’t complain through the severe back pain she endured for nearly 60 years due to a botched surgery. She is pain free, at peace and with her angels now.
Services will be held at St. Bridget Catholic Church on 4/20/23 at 10am PST.
2213 N. Lindsay Road, Mesa, AZ 85213
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
My thoughts and prayers are with my uncle and cousins. Aunt Chris was a great, strong person.