Chris Franzeim (Courtesy photo)
Teacher, lifelong student, mentor
Christine Elizabeth Franzeim passed away in the early hours of March 19, 2014, in her home in Harvard. Her passing is the end of a hard-fought, three-year battle against cancer. She was 67 years old.
Chris Franzeim, or Ms. Franzeim as she was known to her students, taught English at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School for nearly 30 years. Her career as a teacher defined her life. It was her life’s work and her greatest joy. She was always available to her students even long after they’d graduated.
A memorial will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 at the Bull Run in Shirley, Mass.
A foundation is being established in her name to provide assistance to bright, creative 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.
Chris leaves behind Steve, her devoted husband of 43 years, son Paul, daughter Emma. and dogs Molly and Homer. She is survived by her mother Miriam Keenan (97), brother John Keenan, niece Iris, and cousin Ken Keenan; her sisters-in-law Barbara Franzeim and Widge Kent, their spouses Tim Sult and David Kent, 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, her best friend of 30 years and sister in life in all ways save blood. She will be remembered by her GDRHS family, her Goose Rocks Beach family, her Jackson Hole family, and countless others. She touched so very 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 who knew her.
