Christine "Cris" Fears Branche

Christine "Cris" Branche Obituary THE SERVICE WILL BE LIVESTREAMED. On July 10, 2023, Christine “Cris” Fears Branche, loving sister of three, mother of two, grandmother of five, and friend of all, passed away at age ninety-five. Cris was born in De Valls Bluff, Arkansas and moved to Cleveland when she was six. She was first in her immediate family to attend college, earning a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education followed by master’s degrees in education and administration from Flora Stone Mather College at Case Western Reserve University. She met Walter Branche during her senior year of college at an Alpha Kappa Alpha party and married him at Harkness Chapel in 1951. Her beloved sons Walter “Chip” and Christopher came soon after, filling her home with laughter and mischief. Walter and Cris were married for 45 years until his death in 1996, and shared a passion for teaching, classical music, and growing a spectacular garden. A born leader, Cris dedicated her life to public service, starting with a stint as the first female student body president at her high school. In her words, “You make change from the inside as well as the outside.” She was a public school kindergarten teacher for many years until she was tapped to serve as the Director of Early Education for Cleveland Public Schools, where she launched the city’s Head Start program to national acclaim. Cris was a Platinum and Alumnae member of The Links, Incorporated and a devoted soror of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. From the Christian Children’s Fund and the Alzheimer’s Association to Trinity Cathedral and the Ludlow Community Association, Cris served tirelessly as a leader and volunteer for a variety of other charitable organizations--to list all of her positions would fill pages. At home, Cris loved reading, entertaining, shopping for bold jewelry, making Christmas cookies, and guiding her children and grandchildren in creative activities—once a teacher, always a teacher. She never met a stranger and relished chatting with nearly everyone she encountered, often telling them that their guardian angels were getting combat pay. Cris was known for her sharp wit, can-do attitude, colorful fashion, boundless energy, deep curiosity, and unmatched generosity of spirit. She is survived by her sons Chip (JoAnn) and Chris (Karol), her sister Pepper, her nephews Hilary and Jeremy, her four grandchildren, Afton, Christopher, Kaya and Corynn, and her great-granddaughter, Amara. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to ChildFund International (formerly the Christian Children’s Fund) or the Cleveland Area Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Christine Fears Branche. Visit www.alz.org/cleveland/about_us for more information. The LINKS and the AKA "Ivy Beyond The Wall" ceremonies will begin respectively at 1 pm followed by the Memorial Service at 2pm, Saturday, August 26, Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church, 2230 Euclid Ave in Cleveland, OH. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Christine "Cris" Fears Branche, please visit our floral store. Read More

Christine "Cris" Fears Branche

March 15, 1928 - July 10, 2023