Chris Burkett

Chris Burkett, age 73 of Monroe, passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

Born January 26, 1950 in Detroit, Michigan. Chris was the daughter of Edward and Genevieve (Ziawinski) Dragg. A 1968 graduate of Sylvania Northview High School. Her first marriage was to David Hansen in 1970. She then remarried in 1984 to William “Bill” Burkett. The two met while actively involved in Parents Without Partners. Bill and Chris were married just shy of 25 years together prior to Bill passing in 2009. They greatly enjoyed spending their days together attending musicals, going to church, going out to dinner with friends, going antiquing, collecting Tom and Jerry punch bowls, Carnival Glass and Roseville, and above all else spending time with their beloved children and grandchildren. They loved to be actively involved in their community and both had a passion for rescuing greyhounds, owning/adopting 3 of them throughout their years together. Chris worked tireless hours lobbying for and promoting the idea of a dog run in Monroe at Munson Park which unfortunately was never able to obtain enough funding to bring to fruition. Chris worked at Huntington Bank but spent the majority of her career at St. Vincent Medical Center where she worked as a Billing Specialist for 25+ years. She then worked 5 years at HCR Manor Care. Chris finished her final years of employment and retired from the Monroe Housing Commission as the Office Manager & HR Manager after 15 years in 2017. Chris loved the Monroe community and served it in various ways. Chris was a proud and active member of St. Mary’s Church. She volunteered in Christian Women and served as President for many years. She was a Eucharistic Minister and enjoyed educating and mentoring people of the church. She also spent several years involved in St. Vincent de Paul, Spirit of Giving, and participating in Lentin Soup Luncheons. In addition to her church organizations, she volunteered her time at the Thrift Shop Association of Monroe, provided services to her community as a Monroe County Election Inspector for many years and was a member of the Red Hat Society. Chris was adventurous and lived life to the absolute fullest with the biggest heart. She parasailed with her grandkids in the Gulf of Mexico, she water tubed, went snow sledding, rode jet skis, Segways, and motorcycles. She even accomplished two out of three things on her bucket list— she rode in a hot air balloon in 2002 and skydived with her three oldest grandkids in 2019 and will forever be remembered as the nickname she created, SDG (Skydiving Grandma). She deeply loved musicals and was a seasonal Golden Circle ticket holder for 35+ years at the Stranahan Theater of Toledo, Ohio. She enjoyed traveling, trying new foods, going to the movies and celebrating every patriotic holiday while admiring the fireworks. She adored Christmas and filled her home with as many Santa Clauses as she possibly could. She enjoyed bus tours and frequently road tripped to Hamtramck with friends to indulge in Polish foods in true Polish fashion. She was an avid QVC shopper and believed that everyone looked good in her favorite color, Red. Above all else, she loved to be around friends and family. She lived and breathed for her children and grandchildren. Chris was the initial advocate of “Goodies with Grandparents'' at St. John the Baptist School. In addition, Chris spent many years attending her grandkids soccer games, swim meets, gymnastic practices, important school functions, and shared her love for musicals at the Stranahan with her grandkids. She was the most humble, kind, jovial, caring, fun, loving, giving, strong, independent, adventurous, brave, positive, supportive, and compassionate woman. Her contagious smile and positive spirit lit up every room she entered and nothing could dim her light that shined from within. She spent the end of her days surrounded by family, with an unsweetened ice tea in hand and Charleston Chews nearby. She most certainly enjoyed several of her Favorite Things as her “Sound of Music” loving self would say. She sang childhood lullabies with her grandchildren, watched several musicals and Disney movies, sharing many laughs, hugs, and memories with her family. Chris was an amazing mother, grandmother, sister, and friend and will be deeply missed by many. To cherish her memory she leaves behind her children: Kathy (Jeff) Myers and Wendy (Casey) Walker; step-children: Julie (Terry) Adams and Michael (Dawn) Burkett; grandchildren: Samantha (Michael) Boudreau, Allyson Myers, Jacob Myers, Morgan Burkett, Madison Walker, Michael Burkett and Abigail Walker; and sister Geniene (Chuck) Hopkins.