Christine M. Mara

Christine McNaughton Mara, 60, formerly of Stowe, died on Nov. 29, 2014, surrounded by her family at her family home in Coeymans, N.Y., after a courageous five-year battle with cancer.

She was born in Coeymans Jan. 11, 1954, the fourth of five children of Malcolm and Antoinette (Michaud) McNaughton. She attended Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School and the Hartford School of Ballet.

She danced with the Hartford Ballet for one year and then moved to Oak Ridge, Tenn., where she both danced and taught at the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association. She later taught dance at Russell Sage College and performed and choreographed for the New York State Youth Theater Company.

She married Joseph P. Mara Aug. 22, 1981, in North Greenbush, N.Y., and they lived in New York City, where Chris worked for Merrill Lynch in management training and development. In 1983, she and Joe moved to London, where she continued with Merrill Lynch until moving to Lehman Brothers as head of operational training for Europe and then in 1988 to Court Cavendish Ltd. as head of training.

In 1985, Chris gave birth to the couple’s first child, Emily Christine. Their son, Timothy Patrick, was born in 1987. Upon their return to the states in 1991, they lived briefly in New Jersey before moving to Stowe in 1992.

In Stowe, Christine became part of a community that she loved and cherished, and raised her children in what she considered her most important and rewarding role, that of Mom. She and Joe opened their home as a venue for many charitable causes, including the Helen Day Art Center, the Clarina Howard Nichols Center and Stowe Performing Arts. Chris served on the boards of the Helen Day Art Center and Stowe Performing Arts, for which she was board president.

Chris put her love of dance to work for the Stowe community. She choreographed three shows for Stowe Middle School and nine for Stowe Theatre Guild between 1997 and 2007, including “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Camelot,” “Nine,” “Jekyll & Hyde,” “Chicago,” “The Fantasticks,” “Victor/ Victoria” and “Urinetown.” She graced the stage as a performer in “Peter Pan” and “Cabaret.”

She had the ability to choreograph for the nondancer as well as the dancer, and always put her nondancing actors at ease with her sense of humor and warmth. Most of them left her tutelage with a sense of wonder at what they had been able to do and the amount of fun they had along the way.

In Florida, Chris found her passion for tennis, becoming a formidable player. She played on several teams in Miami, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. Known as the “net poacher,” she formed wonderful friendships, playing up until May 2014, when she was no longer physically able. Tennis was her safe place during her battle with cancer. It never came onto the court with her.

Both prior to and since living in Vermont, she and Joe have traveled all over the world, but Vermont held the most special of places in her heart. She and Joe came back several times a year to the community she loved.

Those who knew Christine will remember her warmth, sense of humor, ability to see the crux of an issue and diplomatically guide others to see it as well, her tremendous sense of style, and her ability to have the last word, typically “Love you more.”

In her final months Chris, Joe, Emily and Tim chose to live near her family in Coeymans, N.Y. Christine left the following words in her journal, “Leaving this life is not my choice and I cannot imagine a better place to be than here with all of you. Truly, life with you all has been beyond any expectations I could have possibly seen for myself. The right parents, a great family, the right man and all things fell into place. I worked and struggled for everything but the road was relatively an easy one. When one looks back, I can see the many gifts I was provided to get me through. For all of those I am thankful. Why I was rewarded with them I do not know, but I graciously accept and appreciate all in my life. I only hope I have done enough with it. I so dislike leaving things unfinished or gifts not shared. So I pass my heart to my family and hope they feel mine beating with theirs when they need it most. My heart and love will never leave you. Of that I am sure.”

Survivors include her husband, Joseph P. Mara of Boynton Beach, Fla.; her children, Emily C. Mara and Timothy P. Mara; four brothers, Michael McNaughton, David McNaughton, Jeffrey McNaughton and wife Susan, all of Coeymans, and Steven McNaughton and wife Constance of Long Island, N.Y.; 14 nieces and nephews and 13 grandnieces and grandnephews who lovingly knew her as Aunt Tina; her mother in-law, Mary Jane Mara of North Greenbush, N.Y.; seven in-laws, and many friends.

A celebration of Christine’s life will be held March 7, 2015, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Stowe home of John and Tina Springer-Miller, including a one-hour musical tribute at 7 p.m. Anybody wishing to attend should RSVP to Emily Mara at ecmara85@gmail.com.

The family has asked that any donations honoring Christine’s memory be made to the Community Hospice Foundation, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144.