1956 – 2017

AUBURN — Christine (Baylis) Savignano, 60, passed away peacefully in her sleep from natural causes Thursday, Feb. 2, at her home in Auburn.

She was born in Lewiston on Feb. 17, 1956, the daughter of the late Edward and Muriel (St. Pierre) Baylis.

Raised in Lewiston, Chris graduated from Lewiston High School in 1974. She attended the University of Maine at Farmington and then graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science in dietetics. She worked for five years at Mercy Hospital in Portland as a dietitian. After starting a family, she pursued a career in education, returning to school to receive her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Maine. A lifetime learner and passionate about teaching, she later went on to receive her master’s degree in education from the University of New England. Christine was a committed elementary school teacher who loved to share how to learn, and simply loved the process of education. She taught school for over 25 years with the past 23 years as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at McMahon School.

She married Philip Savignano in 1979, and they shared a loving marriage of over 37 years. Family was the center of her life; she was proud of her two her children and beamed with joy over her grandchildren. She enjoyed hosting large family holiday gatherings with her sisters and in-laws in her home. Chris enjoyed the outdoors: hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, canoeing, kayaking and camping with friends and family, especially spending time in Acadia National Park. Chris loved to travel. She had many, many hobbies including beekeeping, scrapbooking, sewing, gardening and home improvement, as she was an avid DIYer and had continuous projects.

Christine is survived by her husband, Phil; daughter, Margaret Morris and her husband, Matthew, of Brunswick; son, Sean Savignano and his partner, Andrea Labonte, of Greenwood; her two grandchildren, Michelle and Maxton Morris; her four sisters, Susan Hanson, Carol Baylis, Cathleen Schwartz and Cynthia Snow; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family are invited to share their memories and offer their condolences by visiting Christine’s online guestbook at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.