In the quiet hours of June 25th, our beloved Christine Ann Rasmussen left us unexpectedly. Though words fall short of capturing the depth of our loss, we remember her with profound love and gratitude.
Born on Christmas Day, 1949, in Seneca Falls, New York, Christine was the cherished daughter of the late Louis and Anna (Morganti) Pagano.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 53 years, Arthur “Sam” Rasmussen; her sons, Aaron (Jen) of Ohio and Nathan of California; her adored grandchildren, Emma and Drew; her brother, Louis (Gerre) Pagano; and her grand dog, George. She was a loving aunt to many nieces, and a loyal friend
to countless more.
Christine, affectionately known as Chris, was the heart of her family — a fiercely loving wife, mother,
and Nona. Her greatest pride was her children and grandchildren, whose lives she enriched with unwavering support. She has sat through countless baseball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse games and even a few steel drum concerts, and there is no other place she would rather have been.
As a dedicated educator in the Valparaiso School System for 40 years, Chris’s impact was both profound and enduring. In the early years, she taught at Vale Day School and served on the Board of Directors of Opportunity Enterprises and Vale School. She started teaching at Memorial and ended her career at Flint Elementary School.
Generations of students, colleagues, and families were shaped by her love for teaching and reading.
Chris was an absolute
people person. Her friend group had no boundaries. She had grade school friends, college friends, teaching friends, book club friends, Tri-Kappa friends, neighborhood friends, even the friends she met in the grocery store. Her willingness to give to them was unmatched, if any of them needed something, she would be there.
A service celebrating her life and honoring her legacy will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 2610 N. Campbell Street, Valparaiso, Indiana on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Valpo Schools Foundation, in Chris’s name to establish a scholarship for a student pursuing elementary education. www.valposchoolsfoundation.org
