Obituary for Christine "Chris" Gundaker (McNeal )
Christine McNeal Gundaker, 89, died peacefully Sunday, August 21, 2022 at her daughter’s home in Roseville, Minnesota. Chris was born October 24, 1932 in Allentown, PA. In 1952 she married her high school sweetheart and lifelong best friend Eddie. They raised two children, Cindy Norton (Jeremy Norton) and David Gundaker (Anka Bric), and enjoyed spending time with their four grandchildren, Jeff and Andy Norton and Rok and Alex Gundaker, and numerous grand- and great-grand-dogs. She also raised countless German Shepard puppies who went on to become guide dogs for the blind.
Chris was an amazing seamstress and quilter, problem solver, and community member, volunteering her time and energy with many local organizations. She loved people and was beloved by many. She was always ready with a hug and could talk to anyone, for hours. She was kind, loving, and fiercely independent. Always an optimist, she looked for the best in everyone and firmly believed that every person had good in them.
Chris was always open to adventure. She loved playing golf, swimming, walking the beach, and playing Mexican train. She said “yes” to a balloon ride with Eddie on their anniversary, kayaking, snorkeling in Galapagos, and a trip to Africa when she was 79! She loved chocolate and made an excellent graham cracker cream pie.
Chris was blessed to have many she called family. She was preceded in death by her daddy, Azel Wingert McNeal, mother Betty Louise Conaway McNeal Carey, step-father Lee Carey, “Aunt” Kitty (Katherine), “Uncle Bob” (Robert) Caskey, and her beloved husband Eddie (Edward Deen Gundaker). She is survived by her children and grandchildren and cousins Dan (Ceil) Mowday and Barbara Mowday Stoy.
A celebration of her life will be held at Simsbury United Methodist Church, 799 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury at 4:00 PM on Saturday, October 22nd. Donations may be made to Guide Dogs for the Blind (San Rafael, CA) or Optage Hospice (Roseville, MN). Please visit Chris’ Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.
Chris was an amazing seamstress and quilter, problem solver, and community member, volunteering her time and energy with many local organizations. She loved people and was beloved by many. She was always ready with a hug and could talk to anyone, for hours. She was kind, loving, and fiercely independent. Always an optimist, she looked for the best in everyone and firmly believed that every person had good in them.
Chris was always open to adventure. She loved playing golf, swimming, walking the beach, and playing Mexican train. She said “yes” to a balloon ride with Eddie on their anniversary, kayaking, snorkeling in Galapagos, and a trip to Africa when she was 79! She loved chocolate and made an excellent graham cracker cream pie.
Chris was blessed to have many she called family. She was preceded in death by her daddy, Azel Wingert McNeal, mother Betty Louise Conaway McNeal Carey, step-father Lee Carey, “Aunt” Kitty (Katherine), “Uncle Bob” (Robert) Caskey, and her beloved husband Eddie (Edward Deen Gundaker). She is survived by her children and grandchildren and cousins Dan (Ceil) Mowday and Barbara Mowday Stoy.
A celebration of her life will be held at Simsbury United Methodist Church, 799 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury at 4:00 PM on Saturday, October 22nd. Donations may be made to Guide Dogs for the Blind (San Rafael, CA) or Optage Hospice (Roseville, MN). Please visit Chris’ Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.