Christine Marie Coale's Obituary
Her Story:
Christine Marie Coale passed away on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at her home in East New Market surrounded by her family. She was 45.
"Christy" was born on April 10, 1975 in Milford, DE the daughter of Michael F. Eskow and Margaret "Janie" Hawkins Eskow.
Growing up in Federalsburg, Christy attended Federalsburg Elementary School. She often would recall her classmates that she grew up with here in town. She came from a great group of kids that played together, tested out the sled on the hill after a snowfall, and enjoyed playing tennis and basketball at Chambers Park. Later she revisited Federalsburg Elementary to assist young students with Character Counts, teaching them life lessons on important decisions. She loved the kids and would enjoy connecting with them as they were older and continued to encourage them to set goals and follow their dreams.
In her teens, she was part of the youth group of the former Lighthouse Fellowship Church. There she was known as the "mother hen" as she was the first to be able to drive all of her other friends here and there. It was there that she met Roman at the age of 15. They instantly had a friendship with many other teenagers that became life-long friends.
Later she graduated from Epworth Christian School with the class of 1993. Although she had a small class she remained very close to her friends from high school and hosted several annual trips and reunions over the years. They truly had a special bond that has lasted a lifetime with her classmates.
After her graduation Christy desired to persue a law degree and started her undergraduate studies at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. During her junior summer off, her parents asked her to work at the family funeral home to assist with clerical duties and helping with the day to day business operations. There she slowly developed a sense of pride to help those in need that have suffered loss. Christy was mentored by her parents and her late grandparents, Donald and Margaret Hawkins. Though the tasks were thought to be temporary for the summer, a desire continued to grow to work for her mom and dad as she enjoyed serving others.
By this time Christy and Roman were dating and she was uncertain if she wanted to continue with her course of study or change her plans and go to Mortuary School. After her graduation from Messiah in 1997 with a Political Science Degree, Christy and Roman both enrolled at Catonsville and graduated in 1999 with their degrees in Mortuary Science.
She was married on June 5, 1999 to Roman Coale and they made their home in Easton and later moved to East New Market. Almost immediately, they knew they made the right move. They were promptly visited by the neighbors and were welcomed into what we now call "our gang". This friendship over the past twenty years of sharing food, love, parties, celebrations, and gatherings some of the very best moments Christy recalled to brighten her days during her illness.
Her greatest gifts were her sons, Addison Garrett and Graham Roman. She loved everything about motherhood and often spent countless hours volunteering at Warwick Elementary and North Dorchester Middle School. She was a past president of the P.S.T.A. and helped with fundraisers to enrich the lives of all students.
Christy and Roman began working for her parents after their graduation and later purchased the Framptom Funeral Home in Federalsburg in 2012. They continued the family traditions of care and grew the practice by acquiring the Mid Shore Cremation Center in Cambridge, Lucy's Flowers in Federalsburg, Ostrowski Funeral Home in Saint Michaels, and most recently the Fleischauer Funeral Home in Greenwood, DE. Christy loved serving her families and truly loved her role in helping others. She was a passionate and loving professional who always acted on her heart and many times found herself right in the mix of crying with her families.
Over the years Christy was able to travel with her family and close friends to many countries in Europe; but her favorite place in the world was Bermuda. Over their almost 22 years of marriage, Christy and Roman would return to the island more than 40 times to see their friends and visit their "happy place". On their twenty-year anniversary the entire family traveled to the island to witness the renewal of their wedding vows. The island was always a special place to them both and provided many fond memories and traditions with their children. They have made life-long friends that they visit each time they are on the island.
Travels with her Uncle John and Cousin Mark also provided wonderful experiences on annual antique buying trips to England, New York City, and New England. Christy and Roman enjoyed collecting various English antiques and always enjoyed time together shopping, touring historic sites, museums, and sight-seeing. They always had an adventure touring the English countryside and stopping in small towns for dinner and small shops.
Christy loved everything about hosting a party. From writing or creating the very best invitation to setting the table with name place settings, to cooking a meal for an army, she managed to always make things feel special. She always had a knack to be the one who kept everyone laughing, loved, and welcome. She loved throwing birthday parties for her sons and spared no expense or detail in making them absolutely perfect. From the hearse converted to the ECTO 1 for a Ghostbuster party to hiring the "Reptile Man" to show the children various different species of snakes and turtles right in their own garage. It was especially memorable when a 20 foot Burmese Python was wrapped around Roman to show the children the do's and don'ts of escaping.
In her continued quest to have any reason to throw a party, Christy would also host dog birthday parties by inviting the doggies of the neighborhood over for dress up and treats. She loved her Cavapoo dogs: Ruby and Izzy.
Christy enjoyed photography and would drag her ever-so-patient husband, children, and dogs to photo shoots that would usually result in memories that are now forever treasured. She had a small fan club of friends and family who were part of the almost monthly photo of the "Coale kids and dogs club". Membership was simple: you just had to mention that you either liked kids or dogs and have a valid mailing address.
She loved scrap booking and would relish in the joy her children's smiles (and wagging dog tails) would bring as she created pages for their annual books. She loved her many trips with her "scrapbooking girls" to Ocean City to stay up all night and create pages with each other. It was often a competition on how many quality pages she could create during her time there; and Christy always won by a landslide.
Business and pleasure aside, her greatest joy was her family. Christy always considered herself lucky to have the parents she did to teach her the importance of her spirituality, right from wrong, how to love and how to forgive. She was the most caring and kind person you could ever meet.
She was very close to her only sister Elizabeth. They would travel to scrapbooking conventions, shopping trips, dinners with the girls, and just enjoyed being together. They loved raising their four boys and would always find a way to have cousin time on the family boat or an occasional trip here and there to enjoy each other's company.
A special thank you to the community for the outpouring support of love via calls, visits, texts, meals and especially cards. So many have been so faithful to encourage Christy and her family during her illness with daily cards and support. Your continued support, prayers, and love are appreciated.
She is survived by her husband of 22 years, Roman Coale of East New Market, two sons, Addison Garrett Coale and Graham Roman Coale, her parents, Michael and Janie Eskow of Federalsburg, her sister, Elizabeth Bortz and her husband Ryan of Davidsonville and their sons: Morgan and Owen; her Uncle Dr. John Hawkins of Federalsburg, a special cousin Mark VerValin of Baltimore, three Aunts: Janice Eskow of Walton, NY, Nancy Sheets of Norwich, NY, and Lisa McAteer of Mt. Bethel, PA; her mother and father-in-law Donald and Nanci Coale of Cambridge; her sister-in law Ashley Colbourne and her husband Jack of East New Market and their daughter Ava; an "Aunt" Sandra Moore of Cambridge; six cousins: Dr. Rebecca McAteer and her husband Ryan of Terrytown, NY, Jessica Van Hoff and her husband Matt of Boston, MA, Jennifer Aziaka and her husband Peter, Elgin, ILL, Karen Jaunarajs and her husband Brandon of Springville, AL, Jonathan Eskow and his wife Rachel of Downsville, NY, and Kari Hendrickson and her husband David of Norwich, NY; and last but certainly not least her doggie daughters, Ruby and Izzy.
In addition to her family, she is survived by her chosen family and their children known as "our gang" Tom and Ann Gebert, Glen and Cindee Wong, Ken and Debbie Usab, Carson and Angela Bozman, & Wayne and Sandi Potter; her classmates of Epworth: Rev. Adam Barr, Christy Creddy-Warner, Casey Dailey-Givens, Liz Dean, Brian Davis, Amy Hart Riggen, D.J. Jardene, Stacey Lathbury Grez, Suzette Levesque, Tim Lyons, Niki Mitchell Bean, Melanie Perdue Metzger, Thad Truitt, Joanne Tune Ward, Andrew Weber, Steve White, Carrie Young Daily and a host of many other close colleagues and friends.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Donald and Margaret Smith Hawkins and her Paternal Grandparents, John Leo Eskow, Sr., and Anna Perkins Eskow, an Aunt, Dr. Mary Ellen Hawkins McAteer, and two uncles: John McAteer and John "Bud" Eskow, Jr.
While we would love to welcome everyone to the service, COVID restrictions and the desire to keep our family and friends safe, a private funeral service will live streamed on Roman's Facebook page on Wednesday March 3, 2021 at 1:00p.m. Her classmate, The Reverend Adam Barr will officiate, assisted by her funeral home colleague and friend Reverend Keith Colona. Interment will follow in Hill Crest Cemetery in Federalsburg. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 from 1:00 to 3:00p.m. and 5:00 to 8:00p.m. Facial coverings and social distancing will be required and seating will be limited. We hope you will visit with us during one of these times.
Although Christy loved flowers, especially Gerber Daisies, and the joy they brought her in life, she knew the needs for families who needed support during illness and loss.
Although our experience with Coastal Hospice was short, we will be forever grateful for the love and care they extended to our family. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Coastal Hospice, Post Office Box 1733, Salisbury, MD. 21802 or Saint Jude's Children's Hospital at www.stjude.org.
Share memories with the family at www.framptom.com
What’s your fondest memory of Christine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Christine?
Share a story where Christine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Christine you’ll never forget.
How did Christine make you smile?
