Christine Dirkes Dickman
July 26, 1921 - February 3, 2005
Obituary
Christine Dirkes DICKMAN
Christine was born July 26, 1921, in Muenster, Germany, and died February 3,
2005, in West Seattle, Wash., at the age of 83.
Christine came to the United States with her parents in 1924 and grew up in
Ohio. She earned a nursing degree from Mount Carmel School of Nursing in
Ohio. Working as the school nurse, Christine put herself through Ohio
Dominican University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education.
Christine set great store by education, obtaining a master’s degree in
guidance and counseling at Seattle University.
Christine met Vernon K. Dickman, a World War II Pacific combat veteran, on a
blind date arranged by Christine’s college roommate. The pair married on
Nov. 27, 1947, and nurtured their loving relationship until Vern’s death on
July 7, 2004.
When Vern took a job in 1956 with the Boeing Co. as a program planner,
Christine moved from Ohio to Mercer Island with her husband and their three
children. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Burien and Christine began
teaching at St. Francis of Assisi Parish School in Burien. She moved to St.
Bernadette Parish School in Burien when it opened in 1960 and taught there
for over a decade. Some of the students to whom Christine introduced
reading would stop her on the street many years later just to say hello.
Christine returned to nursing in the early 1970s, becoming a head nurse in
the nuns’ wing of Providence Mount St. Vincent nursing home in West Seattle.
She retired in the early 1980s, six months after her husband retired from
Boeing.
A classy woman with an impeccable sense of style, a bright laugh and a
mischievous twinkle in her eye, Christine was always extending a helping
hand. Among her volunteering accomplishments, she taught English as a
Second Language and assisted in the Providence Mount St. Vincent gift shop.
Christine’s skills in knitting, crocheting, sewing and baking resulted in
hundreds of handcrafted items sold at fundraisers for Providence Mount St.
Vincent. Year after year, Christine faithfully played Mrs. Claus to her
husband’s Santa at Christmas activities for numerous nonprofit
organizations. She was always working on events for the Belles and Buoys
Dance Club, to which she and her husband belonged for many years.
Christine also was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church from
the time she moved to Burien.
Christine is survived by her daughter, Kristine M. Tom Bayless; daughter,
Connie Jim Walker; son, Eric Maggie Dickman; sister, Margaret Charles
Stevens; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Rosary will be said at Bonney-Watson Parker Chapel, 900 S.W. 146th St.,
Burien, on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005, at 6:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held
at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic
Church, 15236 21st Ave. S.W., Burien. Entombment will be at Gethsemane
Cemetery in Federal Way. Arrangements are by Bonney-Watson Parker Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to
Providence Hospice of Seattle, a hospice organization of the donors’ choice
or the donors’ favorite charity.
Best greetings from Germany.
My old Relationship ist near Muenster too.
Hermann