Christine Pedrioli died peacefully in her sleep while at home, little more than a month after a brain cancer diagnosis. She was a native of Staffordshire, England, and spent half her life in California.
After graduating from the City of Birmingham College of Education (now part of Birmingham City University), Christine, in 1963, joined her sister Valerie in departing to teach in Jamaica, where both met their future husbands. Christine’s future husband Charles, who grew up in Modesto, California, was a Peace Corps volunteer. In 1969, they married in Coventry and lived in the English Midlands for 12 years. During that time, Christine taught secondary school art, becoming head of department, and the couple had two sons.
In 1981, the family moved to California, soon settling in Oakdale. Beginning when her sons were in elementary school, Christine worked as a teacher’s aide in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District, eventually retiring in 2017 after 32 years of service. Neighbors and colleagues often saw her biking or walking to and from work.
Christine was a homemaker who loved get-togethers with family and friends, many of whom became accustomed to receiving her English baking and greeting cards at Christmas. She kept busy with activities such as taking art classes at Modesto Junior College, teaching children’s summer art lessons in the backyard, reading, gardening, and participating in gym classes. When possible, she delighted in visiting family and friends in England; walking in the English Lake District was a special pleasure. Having grown up with the BBC, Christine became a supporter of U.S. public media, enjoying both news and entertainment programs, including weekly favorites Mystery! and Masterpiece Theatre.
Surviving Christine are Charles, her husband of over 52 years; her sons Carlo and Chad; her twin sister Hilary Cooper; nieces and nephews; and other relatives. Her parents Albert and Florence Warren and her older sister Valerie Stephenson preceded her in death.
A memorial service will take place at St. Matthias Anglican Church, Oakdale, at 10:30 AM on November 10, 2022. A reception will follow thereafter at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Oakdale. Members of the community are welcome to attend and, if they so desire during the service, to share their own memories of Christine. In lieu of flowers, any gifts may be made to PBS KVIE or the Sierra Club.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Nov. 2, 2022
