Christy Harris D’Ambrosio
Among the most terrible things I had to do regarding my daughter was telling her about Christy Harris D’Ambrosio, who died on Tuesday, April 8. Christy was the youth director at our church when my daughter was active growing up in the church. She directed several plays that my daughter participated in, including The Prince of Egypt, Once on This Island, The Lion King, an iteration of Assassins called Shooters, Bethlehemian Rhapsody, a performance using Beatles music, and even a piece that required the kids to write their own content. Christy was also a long-time member of our choir.
When I heard on the Sunday before she died that she was not expected to make it, right after church, I rushed to a parent of another kid who had been in my daughter’s confirmation class. I said, How are you telling your kid? How am I going to tell MY kid, who is in South Africa?
The day after Christy had passed, I tried to set up a WhatsApp meeting with my daughter. It didn’t work, so we communicated on Facebook Messenger, which meant that I couldn’t see her face, just her photo. I spent about 20 minutes discussing almost anything except the news I needed to share with her. When I told her that Christy had died, the first thing she said was “What?”
Christy had been very ill several times in the last four or five years with cancer. Still, she tended to rally and get better. She even made it back into the choir for a brief time. The news was a surprise, yet not. I could hear my the upset in my daughter’s voice and I felt helpless in doing anything about it, which frankly sucked.
Obit, augmented
I’m going to steal from the obit on her Facebook page:
“She was the Youth Director at the First Presbyterian Church of Albany for over a decade.” The kids adored her. My daughter and two of her compatriots made what I guess was a memory box. Christy said it was her favorite gift ever.
“Served as the Albany Presbytery Coordinator for the National Presbytery Triennium for Youth in 2013, 2016, and 2019.” Oh, yeah, she accompanied the First Presbyterian youth group, including the daughter, in 2019, and even got me to volunteer as one of the chaperones on a round-trip bus trip to West Lafayette, IN.
“Coordinator for the New York State Council of Churches Youth Leadership Conferences in both New York City and Washington, DC.” My daughter went on trips to those cities.
“In 2014, Christy coordinated a GroupCares national work camp in Albany, organizing over 400 youth from across the nation to paint and/or repair 30+ homes in the South End, Arbor Hill, and West Hills neighborhoods, as well as the PYHIT Schuyler Inn facility in Menands.” Oh, yeah, our whole family participated in this.
“Christy was honored by the NYS Council of Churches in 2017 for Excellence in Christian Formation and received a Community Service Award from the Cameroonian Association of the Greater Capital District in 2019.
“Christy also worked as an Administrator for Albany Pro Musica and volunteered at Music Mobile, Wizard’s Wardrobe, and Children at the Well (With Our Voices).” Wizard’s Wardrobe is a tutoring program located in the South End, where my wife works. It was Christy who came up with the idea of a Readers Theater, which has been one of the most successful fundraising efforts.
Services
“Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Christy’s family on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street, Albany, NY 12206. Please enter the funeral home from the rear parking lot entrance only. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 362 State Street, Albany, NY 12210.” Of COURSE the choir will be singing, because. “Interment will follow at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery immediately following the Service. To leave a message for the family, please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com
