Christine “Chris” Lees Jonientz, 71, of Hamden, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at Yale New Haven Hospital, with her family by her side. Chris was born in Hempstead, N.Y., on May 29,1952 and was the daughter of the late Thomas and Nola Winters Lees. She graduated magna cum laude from Wesleyan University in 1974, and earned a BA in English, earned a master’s degree in American Civilization from Brown University in 1975 and an M.B.A from Temple University in 1985. Chris worked as a consumer banker and was a certified master gardener. Beloved mother of Thomas (Kathleen) Jonientz. Sister of David Lees. Also survived by her former husband Frank Jonientz.
The visiting hours will be on Sunday, November 12, 2023, from 1 to 4 PM in The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. A funeral service will be conducted in the funeral home at 4:00 PM. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. Should friends desire memorial contributions in Chris’ name can be made to the World Wildlife Fund, 1250 Twenty-Fourth Street, N.W., P.O. Box 97180, Washington, DC 20090-7180, or to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Make checks out to Vibrant Emotional Health and mail to Vibrant Emotional Health, Attn. Development, 50 Broadway, 19th floor, New York, NY. 10004.
Rest in Peace, Chris. You and I were the original Jonientz sisters in law in a family of seven sisters and two brothers . I appreciated your sage advice when deciding on moving back to Los Angeles in 1987. I’ll never forget the Blues Brother rendition of “Soul Man” by You and Frank at your wedding. I hope someone has a video of that somewhere.