Christina Livers

Christina “Chris” Livers (nee Kendzior) passed away peacefully on Jan. 31, 2025. She was 84 years old.

Chris loved her husband, daughter, family, friends, neighbors, township and country, and had a faith in God and in the journey she was on that was marked by fearlessness, positive thinking and compassion for others.

Chris is survived by her daughter, Maria Livers; her dear cousins and sisters- and brothers-in-law; nieces and nephews; Godsons; and many family members, friends and colleagues.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph A. “Fred” Livers Jr.; father, Stanley “Tony” Kendzior; mother, Regina D. Ames (nee Skomski); stepfather, Francis “Frank” Ames; grandparents, Joseph J. Skomski and Helen Laboy Skomski; cousin Carolyn Kott; dear friend Joe Tarasco; and family members and friends that she held close to her heart.

Chris, known as “Tina” to her immediate family, grew up in Hamtramck, the Polish neighborhood of Detroit, Mich. She was the only child of high school sweethearts, mother, Regina Skomski, and father, Stan Kendzior. Although her parents separated when she was a newborn, Chris ultimately had a close relationship with her dad that lasted until his death in 1970. She took every opportunity throughout her life to support and encourage others who had had a similar experience with divorce.

She was raised by her fiercely loyal, strong and fun mom, Regina, also known as “Rexie,” her grandma Helen, her great aunt Sophie and her aunts and uncles, for whom she was always grateful for sharing their homes and hearts, and for including her with her cousins on fun vacations and daytrips.

Chris’s mom instilled a love of music and singing, theater and movies, and they shared many good times seeing performances at the Fox Theater in Detroit.

Christina was a voracious reader and excellent student, winning a scholarship to St. Mary’s Academy in Monroe, Mich., for high school. For four years, she lived on campus with her classmates who became some of her closest lifelong friends. She then attended Marygrove College in Detroit, graduating cum laude with a degree in journalism.

She and Fred (who was attending the University of Detroit) met during their college years on a blind date, and they recognized instantly that they would spend their lives together. Chris was truly grateful to join Fred’s large family, being welcomed by his dad, Joseph A. “Joe” Livers Sr. and stepmother, Mildred G. Sutherland Livers, and gained a bunch of brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, cousins and close Kentucky friends to share life with over the years.

Although Fred’s mother, Mary L. Geoghegan Livers, passed when he was young, Chris also loved and was honored to be part of the Geoghegan family.

Chris and Fred married in October of 1963 and ultimately moved to Roseville, Mich. During that time, Chris worked as a proofreader for a pharmaceutical company and Fred worked for LTV and Eaton Corporation while finishing his Master of Engineering degree — and Maria was born. They stayed in Roseville in the company of great friends and neighbors and were also part of the St. Athanasius Church family until 1970 when they moved to Russell Township for Fred’s work at Eaton’s Cleveland Research & Development division.

Once they were in Russell, Chris and Fred were happy to learn how fortunate they were in their Pekin Road neighborhood family. They also joined the community of St. Anselm Church, where they would be very involved throughout their lives: volunteering for festivals, Fred leading guitar masses and youth and adult choirs over the years, and Chris ushering as well as singing in the choir.

She and Fred also worked together on starting and running their businesses. L & N Olde Car Company and Newbury Sandblasting served the community for over 40 years, due to their commitment and the skills of their amazing partners and employees.

Chris and Fred hosted families from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975. Through a series of connections that began with the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, Chris was introduced to an organization helping to place families in the Northeast Ohio area. The Do and Nguyen families lived with the Livers family for a year and they have remained close ever since. She and Fred respected and honored their service to others locally, nationally and internationally, in government, medicine and human rights, among other contributions.

Her career as a freelance photographer and reporter for the Geauga Times Leader and Cleveland Press sparked Chris’s interest in politics. She got involved in local campaigns and elections, was a precinct committee person, worked at the treasurer’s office in Geauga County and with the Russell Township zoning board. Chris then became a trustee on the Board of Russell Township Trustees, eventually being elected to six terms, serving for 24 years in that office.

Having grown up in the city, Chris understood the importance of large lot zoning for preserving the “Russell way of life” and the critical need for good stewardship of water and land resources, as well as the benefits of excellent police, fire, zoning, road and administrative services. She worked for these throughout her tenure.

She understood that people do not always agree on every issue, but that respectfully working together for the good of the community, its residents and its resources should always be the ultimate goal, now and for the future. Chris enjoyed working with all her colleagues and fellow trustees, and was grateful for their time, care and efforts to serve Russell Township and Geauga County.

Chris was involved with many groups in Geauga, including being a member of the Russell Women’s Civic Club, the Russell Township Historical Society, the Geauga County Health Department, the Geauga Young of Hearts and Burton-Middlefield Rotary. In each, her comradery with like-minded individuals and love of “Service Above Self” was a driving force.

She also maintained her and Fred’s relationship with “Little Brother” Brian after Fred passed, honoring their original Big Brothers, Big Sisters commitment for 50-plus years.

She, Fred and Maria participated in performances of Tetélestai, and Chris and Fred always loved hosting gatherings like their annual Apple Cider Squeeze and having neighbors and friends over, opening their home to many who called them “mom” and “dad.” Chris also loved organic gardening, learning new things, reading, especially biographies and historical fiction, and enjoyed traveling whenever possible.

Chris faced the end of her life in the same way she lived all of the years before: with faith, integrity, grace, determination, intuitive foresight and planning, fearlessness, a solution-oriented mindset and positive attitude. She and Maria have been gifted by the outpouring of prayers and support, in countless ways, from friends, neighbors, financial, legal and business advisors, medical experts, and family from the start of this journey. Thanks to all of you, including Tony and Paul, who have been a constant support and source of respect, respite, friendship, fun, food and kindness for Chris and Maria; and Mary Jo, whose sense of humor, skills, compassion and support as an aide and friend got Chris and Maria through these last months!

Chris and Maria are gratefully overwhelmed by the extraordinary care Chris received at MercyHealth St. Vincent and St. Charles Hospitals in Toledo, led by her neurosurgeon, Ratul Raychaudhuri, MD, and all involved in her journey at the Cleveland Clinic over these 7.5 years. Heartfelt thanks goes out to her primary care physician, Dr. Alla Kirsh, and Chris’s team at the Cleveland Clinic Brain Tumor & Neuro-Oncology Center, especially Glen Stevens, DO, PhD; Andrew Dhawan, MD, PhD; and Ms. Tiffany Sledge, RN, Care-Coordinator.

Gratitude also goes to Chris’s local dental and eye specialists who contributed extraordinarily to her quality of life. Thanks, also, to the staff and medical team at Aurora Manor for their kindness toward Chris and Maria in Chris’s very last days.

Chris will be honored with a wake on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, from 3-7 p.m., at Gattozzi & Son Funeral Home in Chesterland, and a Celebration of Life on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at 10 a.m., at St. Anselm Church, also in Chesterland.

Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Russell Township.

Special thanks from the family goes to Gattozzi & Son, Mr. Jay Jones, St. Anselm Church, Fr. Christopher Cox and Fr. Tom Sweany.

Please consider a donation in memory of Chris to: World Health Ambassador (www.whausa.org); Burton-Middlefield Rotary (www.maplesplashraffle.com); WomenSafe, Inc. (womansafe.org); or a charity close to your heart.

A livestream link will be provided for all who would like to watch the funeral remotely. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gattozziandson.com for the Livers family.