Christine A. Petsas, 96 of Munster, IN passed away Thursday, July 31, 2025 at home with family. She was born November 9, 1928 to Christ and Bessie (Magrames) Angelos. Devoted sister to Mary Eliopoulos; beloved mother to Jim (Andrea) Petsas of Merrillville, IN and Bill (Kathryn) Petsas of Paradise Valley, AZ; cherished Grandmother of Nikki (Tom) Blodgett of Cary, NC, Shelli (Matt) Venable of Louisville, KY, Nicholas (Laurel) Petsas of Phoenix, AZ, Christina Petsas of Phoenix, AZ, and Alexander Petsas of Tucson, AZ; proud Great Grandmother of Colin and Andrew Blodgett and William, James and Edmonston Petsas; dear cousins and many nieces and nephews; preceded in death by her parents, sister Toula Trice, brother Vange Angelos, husband, Nick J. Petsas, and son Timothy D. Petsas. Christine was born in a family home near 8th Avenue and Jefferson Street in Gary, Indiana to humble and hard-working Greek immigrants. Along with her two sisters and baby brother, the family lived and worshipped in this area through the Great Depression, World War II, 1950s and 1960s with the children leaving only when their careers or their own families were established. She made lifelong friends with those neighbors and classmates. At Emerson High school, Christine participated in G.A.A., band, orchestra, and the A Capela singing group. Following her graduation in 1946, she continued her studies at Anderson College. After college, she returned home and began a career as a travel agent, engendering a life-long love of travel. Her career allowed her to travel to Greece to tour the sites and visit family in the villages.

She married Nick J. Petsas on October 5, 1952 and after celebrating with 175 people at Wilson’s, the newlyweds spent the next two months visiting London, Geneva, Paris, Rome and, of course, Greece. They started married life in Gary at 801 Jefferson Avenue. Jim was born in 1954, and by the time Tim was born in 1956, they had moved to Highland. Nick, a homebuilder, completed the family home in Munster just before Bill was born in 1957. While raising her three boys, she attended their school and sporting events, organized family vacations, helped her husband’s business by doing the bookkeeping, and always had a home cooked dinner on the table at 6 PM for a family meal. She was a gracious host for our family on holidays. Yet she always found time to be of service to others. She helped various family members, who immigrated from Greece, get settled in their new country. She was an early and life-long member of the Munster Women’s Club, where she served as president in 1972-1973, and she volunteered as candy striper at a local hospital. When the boys left the nest, Christine went back to work as a travel agent, which allowed her to do what she loved, including familiarization trips to tropical islands and portions of Europe. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, and as she grew older, the great grandchildren. There was an undeniable consistency to how she was viewed by people regardless of whether they were related, met her in high school, or met her later in life. She was always described as kind, sweet, witty, warm, respectful, and gracious. She taught her boys to be grateful for what they have, to be proud of their Greek heritage, and to prioritize faith and family. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made to Hospice of the Calumet Area, 600 Superior Ave., Munster, IN 46321, (219) 922-2732, www.hospicecalumet.org. Visitation will be Friday, August 8, 2025 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at Kish Funeral Home, 10000 Calumet Avenue, Munster, IN. The Funeral Service is 11:00 AM at the funeral home, and interment will follow at Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville, IN.