NEMIS, Chrissie

NEMIS, Chrissie - NEMIS, (“Chrissie”) (Sept. 1916 -April 1st. 2011). Chrissie Nemis (nee Kuczma) passed away peacefully on Friday, April 1st, 2011, at the Sudbury Regional Hospital, with her beloved family by her side. Chrissie was born in Sifton, Manitoba, to her parents George and Helen (nee Farion) Kuczma. She had three brothers – Tony, Harry, and Johnny, all predeceased. Chrissie lived in Sifton, Coniston and Port Colborne before settling in Sudbury in 1937 as the young, beautiful bride of James Metro Nemis (predeceased 1978). Chrissie will be forever missed by her children: Richard (wife Diane, predeceased), Terry and Melody (husband Charles Henry); seven grandchildren: Jennifer and Richard Nemis, David (wife Sarah Gore), Natasha (husband Gianni Folino), Kristin, Larysa (husband Stephen Hart), and Alysia Henry; and three great grandchildren: Michael and Christopher Folino and Charlie Henry. Music, faith and family were the most important elements of Chrissie’s life. Chrissie truly had the voice of an angel and found great joy in using her gift to enhance the lives of others. She originally sang professionally with dance bands and on local television and radio (CKSO) and went on to teach singing privately and for the English Catholic School Board and the Marymount School of Nursing. Over her lifetime Chrissie became an icon of music in Sudbury, and will forever be remembered for her golden voice, which, throughout her life, she so lovingly shared at hundreds, perhaps thousands of local events. Chrissie also shared her great love of music through her many choirs – most notably the Marian Singers, the Sudbury Singers, the Nurses Choir, the Little Marian Singers (boys choir), and the Marymount College Choir. Chrissie’s strength of character, joyful spirit, unswerving resolve, determination and honesty made her a unique role model for all who knew her. Much of her life was tirelessly dedicated to enriching the lives of others through her many volunteer endeavors. Chrissie shared her deep faith as a lector and Eucharistic Minister and also as a reader for the Mass for Shut Ins. She further shared her musical talents with multiple generations of Sudburians by leading students, patients and residents in song at various schools, hospitals, senior residences, nursing homes and entertaining at other special events like the INCO Quarter Century Club Banquet, CKSO telethon, and a Christmas concert in the rotunda at Parliament Hill. In 2000, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the community, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario awarded Chrissie the Provincial Senior Achievement Award. Chrissie touched many people during her lifetime and she leaves behind many wonderful friends and confidants; all of whom will agree that to be with her, to be near her, was a loving, wholesome and healing experience. Chrissie Nemis undoubtedly made the world a better place to live. In passing, Chrissie’s deepest wish was that when you hear a favourite song…think of her, smile and remember all of the good times. Resting at the Jackson & Barnard Funeral Home, 233 Larch St., Sudbury. Funeral Mass in Christ the King Church, 30 Beech St., Sudbury, Monday, April 4th, 2011 at 10 A.M. Interment in the family plot at the Park Lawn Cemetery. Parish prayers 3 P.M. Sunday. In lieu of flowers donations to St. Joseph’s Villa or Mass for Shut Ins would be appreciated. (Friends may call from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Sunday)