Christine Hallas Obituary
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Mission Mortuary - Monterey on May 8, 2024.
Obituary of Christine Marie Hallas
Chris Hallas passed away at her family home in Carmel Valley on May 5th, surrounded by her loved ones.
Born in Janesville, Wisconsin, she was adopted at the age of six months by Gladys and Robert Moen. She grew up with an older brother Chuck. Throughout her life she was galvanized by a search for identity and her birth family, and she successfully sought out her birth mother at the age of thirty-two. Her later determination to be a source of strength, love, and security to her own children was a core part of her values.
This yearning influenced her choice of education and career and she had a life-long commitment to helping people heal. She received her BA in social work from the University of Missouri in St.Louis and her Masters in social work from Columbia University in New York. She worked for several years at an extended care facility for alcoholic women, and was a trained psychotherapist. She deeply connected with clients and was honored to share their journeys.
Chris moved to New York City in 1966 after meeting Nicholas Hallas where they were married in what she described as her "big fat Greek wedding." Following his career path, they lived in Connecticut, Missouri, California, and New York, moving every four or five years while raising their two children Cathy and Nick. They settled in Carmel Valley in 1991. There they enjoyed a large group of close friends. Nick joined the "Bocce Boys" and played every Wednesday for many years, and after his death Chris was supported by a dear group of women with whom she created the infamously rowdy "Women on Wednesday" gathering, which meets to this day.
Chris's beautiful home in Carmel Valley is where family and friends have gathered for countless memorable parties and celebrations on many occasions. Most special to Chris has always been Christmas, which she described as "the only time when children see magic." The spectacular decorations and traditions she created – for example the thirty-nine Santa Clauses on the mantel, the fourteen-foot Christmas tree, and the winter wonderland outside – were deliberately designed to capture that innocence and joy, and she ensured that her children and grandchildren (and friends) would have that experience to cherish.
Chris is survived by the devoted family around whom her life revolved: her daughter Cathy Danigelis, her husband Bill, and their three daughters Nicole, Michele and Alexa; her son Nick Hallas, his wife Janine and their two sons Nicholas and Collin; her partner of thirteen years Tom Rowland; and her brother Chuck Moen, his wife Gretchen, and their two sons Rob and David. She also leaves the half-siblings from her birth family with whom she connected later in her life: Kathy, Pam, Diane, and Richard. She cherished her sweet dogs Zoe Marie and Niko Rocky who offered her great comfort and on whom she lavished love and attention. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of forty-one years Nicholas Hallas and her half-siblings Carolyn & Phil.