Christine Dalapas

TROY, N.Y. – Christine Dalapas went to be with the Lord at the age of 94 on Nov. 4, 2025.

Christine was born in Lawrence, Mass. on Nov. 28, 1930 to parents, Peter and Pota (Boucouvalas) Dalapas. At the age of 5, Christine, along with her family, moved to Saco, Maine where she spent the remainder of her childhood years.

Christine’s love for learning and gaining knowledge was founded in her early years in Saco elementary schools. She was a 1948 graduate of the Thornton Academy in Saco, and following her graduation, was employed as a secretary at the Saco Lowell Shops in Saco for several years.

In 1950, Christine attended Boston School for Dental Nursing and graduated from there in 1951. She worked as a dental assistant for 10 years in Boston, Mass. and Maine. She continued her education and graduated in 1959 from Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists in Boston. While working in the Boston area, she continued her education at Northwestern University where she received a B.S. degree in 1970. She was employed as dental hygiene instructor at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pa. and at Westbrook College in Westbrook, Maine. She would later, through President Nixon’s Allied Health Act, obtain a grant to pursue a master’s degree from Columbia University from where she received her M.S. in Dental Hygiene in 1973. Following an externship at the University of Maryland Dental School, she was employed as a full time instructor at the University’s Dental School. She returned to Northampton Community College and was hired as Department Chairperson for two years. She was then hired by Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. where she served as Chair of the Dental Hygiene Department and, in the early 1970s, at the request of then College President James J. Fitzgibbons, designed and procured the necessary equipment to institute a clinic which would provide practical clinical experience to the students and affordable dental care to low income families of the community.

Christine enjoyed volunteering for the Troy area RISE program for a number of years. Her favorite hobbies included rug hooking and playing the violin.

Christine was a talented musician and enjoyed playing the violin from the age of 13. She began her studies in Saco where she became a member of the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Portland Civic Symphony in Portland. In Boston, Mass., she was a member of the Boston Civic Symphony, the Boston Conservatory Orchestra and the Harvard-Radcliff Orchestra as well as the Northeastern College Orchestra. She was also a member of the Lehigh Valley College Orchestra in Bethlehem, Pa. and she was a more than 37-year member of the Schenectady (New York) Symphony Orchestra. She traveled for 10 summer seasons with the Summer Upper New York Orchestra playing in various venues throughout Europe and also played in a regular quartet in Troy, N.Y. for many years.

Christine was a member of the Dental Hygienist Association both on local and national levels, the American Association of Dental Schools, the Brunswick Rug Hookers and the Music String Club. She was a longtime and devoted member of St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church in Troy, N.Y. where she served in many capacities including president of the parish council, organist for 30 years, volunteer for many church events and fundraisers and member of St. Barbara’s Philoptochos Society.

A heartfelt thank you is offered to the nurses and staff of the Whittaker Wing of Shaker Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for the care and kindness provided to Christine and for the support offered to her family during her stay.

She was the sister of Paula Andrews, Demetra Tims and the late Antonia Dalapas.; aunt of Stan Tims, Peter Tims, Diana Early, Ted Andrews and Peter Andrews; great-aunt of Cassandra Stelter, Anthony Andrews and Sophia Andrews; and great-great-aunt of Mason Stelter and Caden Stelter.

Friends are invited to visit with Christine’s family on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 3 until 7 p.m. at the Parker Bros. Memorial in Watervliet where the Trisagion Memorial Service will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Her funeral service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m. in St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 909 River St., Troy. This service can be viewed online at https://www.stbasiltroy.com/live-stream

Christine will be laid to rest in St. Demetrios Hellenic Orthodox Cemetery in Biddeford on Friday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m.

Please visit Christine’s online memorial tribute at http://www.parkerbrosmemorial.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared with her family.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Christine’s memory may be directed to St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church http://www.stbasiltroy.com