Christine A. Bilyak's Obituary
Christine Bilyak, 58, of Mystic, CT, daughter of the late Nancy Frassinelli Bilyak and Richard Bilyak, passed away on Monday, September 25, 2023, at Westerly Hospital. Chris is survived by her sister Dianne Bilyak; uncle, Gordon Frassinelli and his wife Barbara; aunt, Virginia Frassinelli Pisciotta and her husband Richard; aunt, Carole Frassinelli; uncle, Walter Bilyak; and many cousins.
Chris had a fantastic life. Born in Stafford Springs, CT, on May 18, 1965, she attended various schools around Stafford, and graduated from Woodstock Academy when she was 21. Over the years she travelled with her family to Baltimore, Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Florida, California, Georgia, New Hampshire, Maine, and Misquamicut, RI. Chris brought laughter and joy to the people she met, and her infectious giggle could make anyone smile. She lived her life to the fullest by dancing with every guy at each wedding she attended, saying hello to fellow shoppers at the grocery store (where she once also almost succeeded in a daring yogurt theft), and doling out hugs and high fives like a motivational coach. If she is in a “better place” now, it must be triple fantastic because she made this world a better place every day.
Chris was genuinely funny and had excellent comedic timing (unless she didn’t get her daily Iced Dunkin’ Decaf exactly the way she wanted it). She enjoyed inventing counterfactual “truths” about her life. For instance, she was “married” to a variety of husbands and had between 14 to 21 children; she would name the first few and call the others, “all the rest.” She also claimed multiple mothers, daughters, fathers, and coaches, and when Chris renamed herself Dr. Irma King in the late 1990s, it became the impetus for her sister Dianne to write a memoir about them called, Nothing Special: The Mostly True, Sometimes Funny Tales of Two Sisters.
Besides being a high scoring bowler, for 40 years Chris was also a Special Olympian. She began in track & field, and tried gymnastics, but swimming was where she excelled. When she participated in the International Special Olympic Games during high school, Chris was appointed by the governor as one of Connecticut’s Athletes of the Year.
Before mainstreaming or inclusion, Chris went from being a Brownie to a Cadette with her sister, Dianne. Their mother, Nancy was a fierce advocate for Chris and others with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Chris was able to participate in Stafford’s recreation program and she also attended Stafford Middle School on Fridays, where she played on the field hockey team.
Donations can be made to Stafford’s Unified Sports Program in both Nancy and Christine’s memory. Please send checks to: Stafford High School, 145 Orcuttville Rd., Stafford, CT 06076, and write “Nancy & Christine Bilyak Unified Sports” in the memo line. Memorial donations can also be made to: The Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut, 60 Peter Ct., New Britain, CT 06051 through use of this link:https://mydsact.org/donate/ or via email: [email protected].
There will be no formal arrangements. Chris thought church was “boring” and per usual let everyone know it when she attended. A “Celebration of Life” will be held October 29. For details, email Dianne Bilyak at [email protected]. The mailing address is: The Bilyaks, 2590 Gold Star Hwy. #107, Mystic, CT 06355. In lieu of flowers, Christine specifically requested that Dianne gets casseroles and baked goods.
Dianne would like to thank the wonderful staff at Westerly Hospital, Charlene Masker Fiore, Pat Beeman, George Ducharme, Comfort Keepers (Alta, Kim, Aly, Carla, Amy, and Lisa), Angelina Gill, Maria Santiago, Carole Crelin Frassinelli, Lynn Godin, and Lori Coughlin. Veronica Halloran, Joseph Primo, and Audrey Scussell Temelini were guiding lights through the hospice process. And Maria Frassinelli Sierra, offered too many gifts to list, including being with Dianne and Chris throughout hospice and helping each let go of the other, despite how fiercely neither wanted to.
Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., Stafford Springs, CT is taking care of the arrangements. To leave a message of sympathy for Christine’s family please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com.
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