John S. Christian, 69, of Lowell, formerly of Haverhill, passed away unexpectedly at his residence Jan. 11.
Born in Biddeford, Maine Nov. 22, 1945, he was the son of the late, Robert T. and Esther R. (Lee) Christian. He attended Haverhill public schools and was a graduate of Haverhill High School, class of 1963. An avid sportsman, during his high school years he was on the Haverhill High School football team and the track team. He then went on to attend the Carmelite Seminary in upstate New York for one year before enlisting into the U.S. Navy. A Veteran of the Vietnam War, he proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1964 until being honorably discharged in 1971.
He was employed at the Portsmouth Navy Yard and later at Western Electric, North Andover. He has been a resident of Lowell for the past 21 years.He loved watching the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox.
He leaves his siblings; brothers, Robert L. Christian and his wife Judith, of Plaistow, N.H., Mark P. Christian, of Haverhill, and sister, Margaret C. “Peggy” Vannella and her husband Carmine, also of Haverhill, nieces and nephews; Robert Christian, Julie Christian Garrett, Adam Christian, Matthew Christian, Beth Christian McIntosh, Melissa Christian Ralph, Melanie Christian Afonso, Kristopher Christian, and Anthony Vannella.
Friends and family are invited to call Wed. evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. Haverhill. Funeral services for Christian begin at 9 a.m., Thursday morning, from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. James Church, Winter St. Haverhill. Burial will follow at Elm St. Cemetery, Plaistow. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, 10 Reed St. Haverhill, MA 01832.