Christine Marie Slicker

Christine Marie (Senften) Slicker Two moments last month typified the life of Chris Slicker. When she encountered Alma Rose Shannon a couple weeks ago, as each headed to a doctor’s appointment to discuss cancer treatment, Chris assured her sister-in-law Sharon’s mother that, “We’re going to kick this, Alma – don’t worry.” Despite her own illness, Chris focused on Mrs. Shannon’s status and even on the day of her own final hospitalization, she phoned brothers Bob and Rick about Mrs. Shannon’s death, as brother Ron attended to Sharon and their children. On her first trip to the hospital, just before Thanksgiving, Chris extracted a pledge from Bob, Ron and Rick that they would stay close should she depart. “I mean it!” she insisted. “She was the glue for this family,” said Ron when Chris died of lung cancer and a stroke Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the Hospice in Fairlawn, brothers at her bedside. “And she’ll always be the glue.” “She would never say anything to worry you about her,” said brother Bob. “She would never complain.” Chris, 45, was born on June 16, 1965 in Canton to Rita (Sass) and Dick Senften of Perry Township. Chris loved for a living. She loved her 12-year-old daughter Abby – the crown jewel of her life -- and husband of 15 years, Eric, who sealed their courtship with a motorcycle ride. She loved her nieces and nephews, and practically adopted nieces Shannon and Stacy Dazey when their mother -- her sister -- Cindy Lowry died in 2007. Chris loved her best friend of three decades, Jackie Hazel, with whom she played the slots and bingo, bowled and tended bar for the Massillon Sons of Hermann. She also loved “kamikaze” night each Christmas season with friends at Miller’s Tavern and the Massillon FOP. “We were always the last out the door wherever we’d go because she always had to hug everybody goodbye, and kiss them,” Jackie said. Husband Eric called her “Speedy,” an ironic reference to the slow-but-savoring way she lived life. She loved her neighbors on Perry Township’s Rowford Avenue SW, Abby’s first home, and she loved the bonfire parties she and Eric later threw each autumn on their Erie Avenue land. She could be a shark at billiards, enjoyed camping and devoured Janet Evanovich and James Patterson novels. She loved her mutts, Kelly, Cassie and Minnie. But Chris loved most to meet the needs of friends and workmates. In this e-mail era, she never lost her acquaintance with the postage stamp, boosting spirits with cards and letters at just the right moment, as well as recognizing special days, achievements and just saying hello. She used her phone the same way. She talked fondly of people she’d trained to replace her at GE Credit, while finding it amusing that she kept that job for years without eliminating herself. Workmates from Arthur Middleton spent an hour in Chris’ Aultman Hospital Palliative Care room last week, crying over a now-silent friend whose kindness in the office was well known. She graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1983 and praised God at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, where she attended grade school. Chris was preceded in death by her parents and sister Cindy. Besides Eric and Abby, she is survived by brothers Ron, Bob and Rick and their wives, respectively, Sharon, Karen and M.L. Schultze; brother-in-law David Lowry; sister-in-law Sally Stenger and her husband Ken, brother-in-law Dan Slicker and his wife Pam; numerous nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered by Chris’ cousin, the Rev. John Weigand, Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Paquelet funeral home of Massillon. Chris prefers casual dress and plans to dress in jeans herself. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society and/or the Justin T. Rogers Hospice Care Center in Fairlawn.