Christopher Brandon Endlich, 9, a resident of Hopewell Junction, NY and a student at Gayhead Elementary School, passed away on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 — in the arms of his mother, Samantha, at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital due to complications from pneumonia.
From the day he was born, Christopher touched the lives of everyone he came into contact with. Having lived in Redding, CT, Princeton, NJ, and Long Beach, NY prior to moving to Hopewell Junction, NY four years ago, Christopher was fortunate enough to have been surrounded by an endless list of remarkable teachers, therapists, doctors and nannies, whom together shaped this young boy into the lovely young man he grew up to be. Lovingly referred to as “Team Christopher”, the Endlich family will be forever grateful for their dedication and commitment to their precious angel.
Christopher’s best friend in the entire world was his grandfather, his Papa, who sacrificed everything and dedicated his life to making Christopher laugh. Together they took on the world, doing absolutely everything together, with his Papa teaching him how to live up to his namesake, Colonel Christopher Brandon, from Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility, who was described as “the kindest and best of men.”
He will be forever loved and cherished by his mother, Samantha, and his grandmother Jacqueline, who together shared the most precious moments of Christopher’s life — from his first breath to the final goodbye. They are kindred spirits, and their bond to each other and their commitment to this precious boy will never end, for their entire world revolves around him. Christopher is also survived by his grandfather and best friend Ed, his Aunt Ashley and Uncle Alex and his Uncle Ed, Aunt Elsa and precious cousin Ava.
As a family, we will all cherish what he taught us, including: take time to dance around the living room any chance you get, eat as many carbs as you can (because seriously, how good could life possibly be without bagels or a bag of chips?), and take time out of every day to watch YouTube videos of Teletubbies in German and Portuguese Dog Training videos — trust me, they will change your life. But most of all, he taught us that every moment you spend with those you love is a very, very precious gift. His spirit lives on and Heaven is now one boy stronger.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Denis Church in Hopewell Junction, NY on Saturday, February 23, 2013 followed by a Memorial Reception. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Christopher’s memory to The Association for Children with Down Syndrome in Plainview, NY (www.acds.org) or the Pathfinder Village Residential Community and School for Down Syndrome in Edmeston, NY (www.pathfindervillage.org).
Arrangements are under the direction of the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc. For online condolences, memorial donations, or driving directions to the church, please visit Christopher’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.
