Christine Georgia Poggie

Christine Georgia “Cavaluzzi” Poggie, or “Eck/Grammy” as she was known to the grand kids, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, the afternoon of June 19th 2024 at the age of 72. She bravely fought Glioblastoma brain cancer for 19 months.

Chris was born in 1952 in Bronx, NY to Dominic and Florence Cavaluzzi. In her early years she moved to East Northport, NY where she attended Northport High school becoming very involved in different choirs and bands where she played the flute, piccolo and was 1st chair. She was awarded top musician of her graduating class and went on to get her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Buffalo State University.

Chris met the love of her life, Mark, after college whilst unknowingly having had gone to the same high school. They were married on July 10th, 1976. They moved to Tampa, Florida soon after, where she received her master’s degree in Education. She became a mother to Michael in 1980 and Melissa in 1983, and after moves to Louisiana, Texas, and back to Florida in between, they settled for good in Overland Park, KS in 1991.

For years she taught elementary school before becoming a district wide substitute teacher.  She was voted Blue Valley School District Substitute Teacher of the year in 1997 and eventually becoming a building sub for Sunset Ridge Elementary. She retired in 2015 to provide day care for her new grandson, Jase. A lifelong musician, Chris was a talented flute teacher with a home based business. Many of her students went on to win state competitions and scholarships. She taught until her diagnosis, and never forgot a single student.

She relished in her many friendships that felt more like a close-knit family in the Nottingham Forest neighborhood. You could often find her out walking with friends, playing golf, attending casual supper parties, and going to book club. Chris loved watching K-State, Royals and Chiefs games as she exchanged texts with her friends discussing all the action of the games!

She was lucky enough to get to accompany her husband of 48 years, Mark, on his many business trips around the world, from the Caribbean and domestic resorts to Italy, Russia, Asia, South America, Europe, Sweden, the UK and more. In addition, every year she and her college friends -- known as “The Buff State Babes”-- would find time to vacation together.

Chris is preceded in death by her parents, brother Joe, his wife Katie, parents-in-law Robert and Lois Poggie and sister-in-law Lynn Poggie. Her early life pets included a quacking duck after which she set her phone ring tone to, as annoying as it might have been. Her legacy lies in her doting husband Mark, children Michael (Mary) Poggie, Melissa (Jason) Kennedy, and three grandchildren, Claire, Jase, and Lilly. Jase and Lilly spent nearly every day of their earliest years in the care of “Eck” while their mom was working, developing a bond with her that could not be matched. Claire and “Grammy” shared a joy for reading and music, spent

Sundays together practicing the flute, and loved each other very much. Chris will also be enormously missed by her niece & nephew, Joey Cavaluzzi and Anne (Matt) Hanka, her brother- and sister-in-law Matt & Rachel Poggie and their children, Leo and Meredith, and a treasure trove of dear friends.

She will be celebrated on July 1st at Church of the Ascension with visitation at 9am and Mass at 10am with light refreshments to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Chris’s name can be made to The Glioblastoma Foundation www.glioblastomafoundation.org/get-involved/donate

 and Band of Angels https://bandofangels.org/donate/