CELEBRATION OF LIFE INFORMATION:
A Celebration of Life honoring lifelong activist Christine Jarosz will be held Sunday, Dec. 8, from 4-7 p.m. Text 214-697-3937 for the location and other details.
Organizers note:
“In true Christine style, this is a casual affair, with food and libations, for those who have been blessed to know her and want to celebrate with family and friends.
“You may bring a photo, fond memory or a favorite dish to share. There will be some videotaping. Robert Emery of The Dallas Way will be our Mistress of Celebrations.
“Christine’s life’s work has been donated to The Dallas Way, so in lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to The Dallas Way, to keep our history alive. http://www.thedallasway.org/?
“Christine’s sister, Johanna Baldwin, requests if you are unable to join us on Sunday, please ignite your activist heart for a moment this season in her honor. As Christine said later in years, “Activism doesn’t have to always be with a megaphone. It can be a gentle word or nod of respect or kindness to another.”
“As she lived a true nonprofit life, any extra money in her pocket was often given to a stranger in need. Giving to others gave her immense joy.”
OBITUARY
Christine M. Jarosz — sister, daughter, leader, teacher and sensei — breathed her last earthly breath and died peacefully at sunrise on Dec. 3, 2024. She was born in Muskogee, Okla. to Henry and Peggy Jarosz, their first of four children. Christine loved her family deeply and had great stories about her capers and antics with her siblings Steve, Phil and Johanna.
Christine grew up in Chicago, Tulsa and Dallas. She attended Abilene Christian College with her brother Phil and, after college, joined the Army, being stationed at Fort Hood. She was an officer during the Vietnam War.
In 1973, Christine bought the home on Daytonia Avenue in Dallas for her mother, but when Peggy moved to the Left Coast, Christine then moved into the house.
After her military service, Christine worked for Fireman’s Fund Insurance as a claims adjuster, but she was fired for paying too many claims, such was her generous nature. Feisty to her core, she was never afraid to say what was on her mind.
Christine traveled Europe solo, and when she returned to the U.S., she worked on women’s causes, forming Womyn for Womyn, the Lesbian Resource Center, in Dallas in 1989. The center hosted many groups, meetings and events, housed a library and printed a newsletter.
In 1994, after the center closed, Christine formed the Women’s Communities Association to provide support and emergency services to women in need.
When Christine wasn’t leading the way, she was always supportive of her brothers and sisters in the LGBT community. For years, Christine organized International Women’s Day in Dallas, and she created the Words of Women essay competition.
Christine was recognized by many organizations for her lifestime of service. She received the Extra Mile Award in 1991 and 1996, and Black Tie Dinner DFW honored her Kuchling Humanitarian Award in 2005. In 2010, she received the SMU Women’s Symposium Profiles in Leadership Award, among many others.
Christine, later in life, studied Tai Chi. Her new skills and dedication soon placed her in public demonstrations at Fair Park. She began teaching Tai Chi at local Dallas libraries, at her home and in random fields wherever she happened to be. Her Tai Chi classes were open to all, and she enjoyed sharing her love of Tai Chi with others.
Christine knew and worked with so many people from North Texas and throughout the world; there is hardly a place on the planet she has not touched in some way. She would welcome anyone into her home, and her living room was an incubator for ideas and friendships.
While her accomplishments were many, her gratitude was always at the forefront. She always thanked people wherever she went because she knew that no contribution was so small it should not be recognized.
Always aware of justice and a better world for women, Christine stood up for her sisters wholeheartedly. She signed every email with “Working for Women, Shoulder to Shoulder and Friend to Friend.”
Christine was assisted in the last leg of her journey by the nurses, aides, doctors, chaplains and other staff members of the Charlie Neighborhood Hospice at the Dallas VA Hospital. Their care of her was the best.
Christine leaves behind her sister Johanna, more friends than one can count, and a small posse of cats, raccoons and possums who frequently dine in her back yard on leftovers.
While she will be dearly missed, Christine is not gone. She can be seen wherever women gather; she is wherever people strive to better their circumstances, and she whispers along with all those who say “thank you.” Her life’s work, including her archives and an oral history, has been bestowed to The Dallas Way.
Will always remember and miss Christine. It was an adventure to collaborate with her on International Women’s Day and her other events over the past few decades. Thanks to The Dallas Voice for requesting this obituary. May Christine rest in peace and power, and her memory be a blessing.
Dear Johanna,
Such an impressive woman is your sister. Such a great loss to the world and you. My heartfelt condolences and LOVE TO YOU
The Jarosz family is near and dear to my heart. Peggy took my “under her wing” when I was 19, making me “the fifth kid”. She ask me to drive Christine to her doctor appointments in early 2006, her first battle with cancer. This began the “Odd couple” friendship Christine and I shared. In the following years we became close friends. I admired her fierce dedication to women’s rights and her many endeavors to “right the world”!
I worked with her in her Red bag campaign and the huge yearly International Women’s Day event.
She was a true fighter for her causes and her battle with cancer. Although she fought hard to change the world she loved nature and we enjoyed many hours sitting on a bench at White Rock Lake watching the birds and visiting with those who crossed our path.
I loved her greatly and will miss her dearly.
Johanna, you were greatly blessed to have a big sister like Christine and a mother like Peggy. (And your brothers were a blessing also)
Much love forever,
Brenda