She was an incredibly kind, generous, and loving person who always put others first.
She was a passionate lover of animals, art, and shopping for antiques at local flea markets. She adored her beloved granddaughters and took great pleasure in everything that they did.
Muriel was born in Portland on July 25, 1942, the daughter of Roger Lincoln and Alberta (Smith) Deering. She grew up in the Portland area until her freshman year of high school, when she moved with her mother to Chelmsford, Massachusetts, graduating from Chelmsford High School. She then entered the nursing program at Faulkner Hospital School of Nursing, where she earned her nursing degree. Following graduation, she joined the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of captain. While in the Air Force, she met her future husband Jerry at Hamilton AFB in California in February 1966. They were married on Dec. 11, 1966. During this time, Muriel volunteered and was selected for flight school. She became a fully qualified flight nurse, and was extremely proud of her military service. She was awarded The Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service. Upon Jerry’s return from Vietnam, they both resigned from the United States Air Force and moved for Jerry to attend graduate school at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, where the first of their three children, Peter, was born. Jerry’s career took them next to Carol Stream, Illinois, where Todd was born, followed by Shelby, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee, where Sarah was born. One last move to Stone Mountain in Georgia was followed by the family settling in Westford, Massachusetts, where they lived for over 20 years. During this time, Muriel worked at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts. They moved to Biddeford Pool in 1998.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Todd in August 2015.
The most important things in Muriel’s life were her family.
Survivors include: her loving husband of nearly 49 years, Jerry Christopher of Biddeford Pool; her son, Peter Christopher of Saco; her daughter, Sarah Christopher and husband Alex Rapp of Cambridge, Massachusetts; her two loving granddaughters, Caroline and Allison Rapp; and her brother, Roger L. Deering Jr., of Coral Gables, Florida. The family would also like to recognize her dear friend, Ingrid Faust, of Hampton, New Hampshire, who always treated Muriel as family.
Visiting hours will be on Saturday, No. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a funeral service at noon at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk. Burial with military honors will follow in Arundel Cemetery, Kennebunkport. Should friends choose, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her memory are encouraged to be sent to: Parkinsons Disease Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, 125 Nashua St., Boston, Mass. 02114.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Muriel’s Book of Memory Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043, www.bibberfuneral.com.
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