Obituary

Christiane Bennett Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Holman's Funeral & Cremation Service on Jun. 9, 2025.

Christiane's spirit left this earth on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 12:50pm, following a major stroke. She died less than 20 minutes after life support was removed, passing as Bruce Springsteen's song "Backstreets" was played. She was surrounded by her loved ones up until the final breath. Cliff, Sally, Rob, Mary Love, and Grace were able to hold her hand, stroke her hair and say goodbye in the operating room. Christiane's life will continue as she was able to successfully donate two kidneys, liver, tissues/heart valves, corneas, and skin. We are heartbroken that her time on earth is finished, but we are so thankful that her suffering is over and that she is finally at peace.

Christiane is survived by her father, Cliff, and mother, Sally, and her six younger siblings: Micah, David, Caleb, Mary Love, Sarah Beth, and Grace. Her spirit is also carried on by her long-time partner, Rob.

We are endlessly grateful to the staff at Providence hospital who showed us exceeding kindness each step of this journey, including with a moving Walk of Honor for all of us on the way to the operating room.

We plan to have a memorial gathering in Nashville later this summer and will share those details once they've been finalized.

For those who would like to commemorate Christiane's life in some way, please feel free to make donations to Cascadia Health: Ways to Give | Cascadia Health

In her words, Christiane was an artist, writer, foodie, nature lover from Portland. And to borrow the words of Mary Oliver, Christiane was good natured and untidy in her exuberance - whether it was art, music, food, a good tv show, a favorite author, a good book, a funny comedian, and everything in between. She loved Christmas with a childlike enthusiasm. She sought beauty in everything. She made the most of any sunny day, wandering a nature trail or jumping in the car, rolling the windows down, and cranking up the music. She lived fully and presently, with exceeding kindness towards all living things in her path. And even when life was cruel, she was ever the optimist, keeping the faith, and spreading cheer when circumstances allowed her to be fully herself.

For Christiane, family was everything - human or otherwise. She called her grandmother Nanny her best friend and she loved her southern cooking. She rarely forgot a birthday. Her loyal beagle Dudley was her constant companion for many years before Rosie came along with enthusiasm and zest for life that mirrored Christiane's. Her cats - Phoebe and Pablo, then Ginger and Jasmine, among many others - were her cherished feline friends. No family is perfect, and hers is certainly no exception, but Christiane worked hard to reconcile differences and make peace, even when it was hard. She loved her parents and her siblings fiercely.

Food was more than a hobby or a tradition. It was a way of life, a daily ritual, a spiritual practice. Whether it was a simple pot of beans or a Michelin star meal, she was always at home in the kitchen - throwing onions and garlic into a hot skillet with olive oil, tending her herb garden with her beloved partner "Farmer Rob", whipping up a spread fit for royalty with more than enough to share - proof of her southern roots if there ever was any.

She was always oriented towards beauty - creating it, seeking it, studying it, noticing it in the unlikely places, and capturing it through painting, writing, or taking photos. Her love of nature often guided her, whether it was walking around Laurelhurst and Mt Tabor Parks in Portland, or the trails of Radnor Lake and Percy Warner in her hometown of Nashville.

She was the epitome of cool. From studying English literature and taking bohemian European vacations to sporting the perfect vintage leather jacket, getting a chic haircut, and wearing Birkenstocks before Birkenstocks were cool, she was influential before influencers were a thing, and gave all her younger brothers and sisters (and cousins) a timeless standard for coolness and class that will always stick with us. Even when those parts of her got a little lost as her mind became sicker over the last several years, we remember her in her fullness. Sparkling, vivacious, gentle, caring, passionate, resilient, funny, and of course. Always a bit mischievous.

The way she exited this world reflects the way she chose to live: with generosity always at the core. Why cook for two when you can make enough to share with the neighbors?

So for now.... She'll be hanging out on the other side, shucking oysters with Tony Bourdain, listening to good tunes, setting the table, and waiting for the rest of us to show up for the feast.

PLAYLIST

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0kty2vNBEWsRx7Pg2zbeJY? si=EUQrUfa2Q0OD1Ry0CppK2A&pi=eEo9RmaeShiuN