A lifelong resident of the Bay Area, born and raised in Richmond, and lived in the Berkeley Hills for the past 54 years, never tiring of the stunning bay views from her home.

Despite her modest beginning, Christine set and achieved high goals for herself. Not only was she the first in her family to attend and graduate from college, she received her bachelors and masters degrees in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley.

Cal football lost one of its biggest fans. She was a season ticket holder for many years, and attended Cal’s last appearance in the Rose Bowl during the Pappy Waldorf era. She never missed a game, whether in attendance at Memorial Stadium or watching on TV while listening to Starkey’s play-by-play broadcast.

Christine was a well-respected professional in her career as a placement supervisor for Contra Costa County Probation Department. She retired from county government after 40 years of distinguished service.

Family was her life. She had a huge heart, and was kind and generous with those she loved. Her greatest loves were her sisters, Esther and Helen; nieces, Marilyn and Marlene; nephew, Nick; and those who preceded her in death: parents, William and Mary Kastanos; sisters, Dora, Irene, and Stella; brother, James; and brother-in-law, Steve Sardonis.

Christine loved to cook, travel, shop, and experience fine dining, and avidly followed politics. She loved to wear designer clothes, collected cookbooks, studied recipes, and gave lavish gourmet dinner parties. She traveled extensively to all locations along the East Coast and in Europe. She owned a home on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, and loved to vacation there with family and friends.

Christine was proud of her Greek heritage, and was a lifelong member of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, Oakland. She spoke Greek fluently, and traveled to Greece and the Greek Islands many times.

She will be greatly missed by her many family members and friends who loved her very much.

One last time, Old Blue, GO BEARS!

Friends and acquaintances are cordially invited to attend funeral services Friday, August 10 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, followed by interment, Sunset View Cemetery, El Cerrito. Viewing Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a trisagion service at 7:00 p.m. at Sunset View Mortuary, top of Fairmount Avenue, El Cerrito.