Christine Rita Spinato Sauter passed peacefully on Sunday morning, September 18, 2022 at the age of 97. She is a native of New Orleans and a resident of Diamondhead, MS.
Christine is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 40 years, Henry “Joe” George Sauter, Jr.; also by her loving parents, Rose Albano Spinato and Angelo Spinato Sr., her siblings and their spouses, Peter (Cindy), Jerome (Gladys) (Marie), Angelo (Catherine), Frank (Rosalie) Spinato, and a sister, Josephine S. LeBlanc (Robert). Christine is also preceded in death by in-laws, Mary M. Sauter, Walter B. Sauter, Sr. (Lenora), Edward Sauter, Sr. (Carolyn), Robert J. Sauter (Julie); nieces, Mary Ann Spinato and Christina Rose Puissegur, and nephews, Clifton Leblanc and Walter Sauter, Jr.
Christine, affectionally known as Aunt Chris to her surviving nieces and nephews, joined the Dominican order as a sister at a young age and served as a teacher at Saint Anthony of Padua school on Canal St. in New Orleans in the 1950’s and 1960’s. After serving her Catholic faith and community there for 24 years, Christine requested and obtained a release from the order of sisters, to pursue a masters degree in special education at the University of Miami in Florida. Shortly after graduating, Christine returned to New Orleans to continue teaching and where she would soon meet her future husband, Henry “Joe” Sauter, a retired Deputy Fire Chief of the New Orleans Fire Department. The newlyweds settled in New Orleans East, first on Keats Street and later on New Castle Drive for the next ten years before building their retirement home in Diamondhead, MS.
Christine continued to serve her Catholic faith as a Eucharistic minister, a lector, CCD teacher (instructor), and active member of the Altar Society at St. Williams and later at Most Holy Trinity. Christine helped to organize many St. Joseph altars for both parishes. But perhaps Christine is mostly remembered as the founder of the Magnificat chapter in her diocese. Christine secured the assistance of Bishop Thomas John Rodi in her efforts to successfully establish the women’s lay organization dedicated to the worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to the continued reverence of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Christine was later honored for her role in spearheading the Southern Magnificat prayer group. There Aunt Chris and Uncle Joe were members of the Diamondhead Garden Society, The Diamondhead Country Club, and enjoyed traveling with family and friends.
Aunt Chris is survived by many nieces and nephews including William “Billy” and Frankie LeBlanc, Suzanne L. Young, Lorie L. Berry; Angelo F., Michael J., and Joseph C. Spinato, Kathleen S. Elstrott; Rachel S. Mohamed, Louis Genard, Edward, Jr., Michael, and Gerald Sauter; Carolyn S. Bertucci, Judy Vogel, Daniel and Frank Sauter, and James Ahlman.
Her surviving great-nieces and nephews include Brad Leblanc, Danielle Shuff, Dennis Puisseger, Randy, Jr. and Jason Young, Jodie Y. Boone, Rachel Y. Bennett, Michael C. and Kathryn B. Spinato, Juan C. Martinez, Julie S. Hunter, Kaylyn S. Bourgeois, Risa E. Williams, Nicholas Elstrott, David, Daniel, and T.J. Brown, Madison Berry, Jerome and Philip Bender, Christopher and Benjamin Genard, Emily G. Francingues, Helanie, Andrew, Adam, Heather, Brandon, Daniel, Sara and Jonathan Sauter, and Matthew, Ryan, Jordan, and Nicholas Bertucci.
Christine is also survived by many great, great-nieces and nephews, and by many great friends along the MS gulf coast communities. Memorial masses or donations to your favorite charity are preferred.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 9 – 11 am at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 9062 Kiln DeLisle Road, Pass Christian, MS 39571. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am in the church. Entombment will be at 2 pm in All Saints Mausoleum, New Orleans.
The Riemann Family Funeral Home, Pass Christian, is serving the family and online condolences may be offered at www.riemannfamily.com
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
9:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)
Lakelawn Cemetery, LA, Metairie
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