Christine passed away peacefully at Elderwood at Burlington October 31, 2024 at the age of 82 with her sister Jean by her side. Christine was the daughter of George Matheson MacKenzie and Ruth Downs MacKenzie. Her birth was not an easy one and resulted in lifelong developmental disabilities. Christine was predeceased by an infant sister and her husband Richard Lamphere. She is survived by her sister Jean and husband Robert Van Buskirk of Apalachin, NY; her niece Martha (and Bill) Theriault and their sons Joshua and Jacob of Danvers, MA: and niece Lauren (and Ryan) Dumigan and their daughter Madison and son Jack of Goffstown, NH.

Christine was a feisty lovable fiercely independent woman who was well known by family and friends for her delightful sense of humor. During her life she encountered many ups and downs and curves. After Chris graduated from Hartford High School she was adrift until she was admitted to Brandon Training School for "vocational training". Chris often spoke of how horrible that time in her life was but it was at Brandon she made life long friends and met the love of her life Richard. Years later while attending the Brandon Training School's closing celebration she was asked to speak in the cemetery dedicating a monument to residents who were buried together in one section. Chris told those gathered that she was glad to see their names listed so they would never be forgotten as she personally knew so many of them.

Christine married Richard Lamphere in 1974 and they moved from Rutland to Burlington. In true Christine fashion she and Rich added to a growing list of friends. They became active in the First United Methodist Church of Burlington attending weekly services and became regulars at the concerts at Battery Park, coffee at Henry's Diner, acting in Thumbs Up theater productions, and soaking in the sun on Church Street. Christine trained to become a nurse's aide and worked at Burlington Health and Rehab. When Rich needed more support from Howard Services Christine was once again adrift until she was also supported by Howard Services and moved into her own apartment in downtown Burlington. Rich passed away in 2002 and Christine then worked to educate the public and even the world about living independently with developmental disabilities. She was interviewed and spoke for the Life History Project at the University of Vermont's Center on Disability and Community Inclusion. Chris was so proud that her photo hung in the hallway at UVM. In 2009 Christine flew to Dublin, Ireland with Howard Services to attend the Ireland NDA Conference. There Christine presented with Howard Services staff Community Living for All Vermonters. Chris spoke on "There is no place like home" and "My life inside and out" describing life at Brandon Training School versus her single apartment and living in Burlington. For years Chris continued to live independently and gather with her friends on Church Street and venture out with her Howard staff. Life took a sharp curve when Covid hit and then Chris's world shut down. She lost her Howard support due to regulations, restaurants closed down or only accepted credit cards, rides to grocery stores were suspended, seeing a physician meant having to first find a way to a Covid test site and then another ride to the physician's office, and gathering with friends stopped. Even finding a way to get food became an impossible task for Christine. Her family snuck into the state to fill her freezer and fridge but Chris lost strength and finally needed more support so she was moved into long term care. Once the Covid bans were lifted Howard Services once again entered Chris' life and now they helped her acclimate and make a new life in the long term care setting. Chris found her new Church Street hanging around the hall near the nurses' station and looked forward to the Howard staff's weekly visits.

To know Christine meant knowing how important family and friends were to her. She loved her nieces and their families and looked forward to their visits. Until recently Chris and her sister Jean would take long trips through New England staying in hotels and photographing everything. One of her favorite trips was Buffalo, NY to visit her niece in college and then sipping wine through the Finger Lakes. Chris spent many memorable holidays and vacations in MA playing with her grand niece and nephews.

Chris always had a book laying about and she often started conversations asking what folks were reading. She loved a cold beer but always just one. No one coveted a cup of coffee like Chris. She had her favorite coffee shops near her apartment and knew exactly when they closed so she could be guaranteed that wonderful cup every day. Chris even loved a cup of cold coffee brought into Elderwood.

Christine's sense of humor was delightful. She had a dry wit that often surprised folks. If Chris sent you a birthday card it was always a chuckler. After she had cataract surgery on one eye she took all the tiny eye drop bottles, tied them with string and hung them on her little apartment Christmas tree because she thought it was so funny.

Christine led a life full of challenges but filled with love. The love of her family and friends and the support for years from Howard Services, who have been like a second family to her, were cherished by her daily. The staff at Elderwood at Burlington were critical to her well being and happiness in the last years of her life.

Christine's family will gather at Thanksgiving in MA to celebrate her by sharing stories, drinking lots of coffee and maybe having a beer or two.

Celebrate Christine by hugging your family, friends, and pets, have a cup of coffee, and share a joke or two to brighten up someone's day.

In lieu of flowers please consider making memorial contributions in Christine's memory to Howard Center Developmental Services, 208 Flynn Avenue, Suite 3J, Burlington, Vermont 05401, Attn: Development Office