Coralie Christianson Britton, 71, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family and friends on January 2, 2020, after a sudden, but brief, illness. Coralie was born in Salt Lake City on June 9, 1948, the third child, and first daughter, of Alice Snarr and Byron Franklyn Christianson. She graduated from Highland High School in 1966 and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah in 1971. She retired in 2004 as the Manager of Address Management Systems for Utah after 33 years of dedicated service to the U.S. Postal Service.
During her professional career at the U.S. Postal Service, Coralie met and married the love of her life, Robert "Bob" William Britton, on February 24, 1988. With their marriage, she quickly put to good use her excellent organizational and cooking skills acquired during her university education in home economics with Bob's six children, ranging in ages 2 to 13. Bob and Coralie created a loving environment of active and fun family experiences, emphasizing education, travel, live theater, music and, most importantly, service to others. Unrivaled as a hostess, she made their home a haven for their kids (and as time passed, their kids' spouses and their grand-kids), friends and relatives, alike, who were always treated with delicious meals and desserts and a place to stay, if needed. Attending birthday parties and important religious and sporting events was a priority to Bob and Coralie, even if those events were out-of-state. Along the way, this dynamic couple established a myriad of life-long friendships, too, because of their caring and magnetic personalities and their service-oriented life.
Coralie was gifted musically and was selected to study with Alexander Schreiner on the Salt Lake Tabernacle pipe organ on Temple Square. She enjoyed using her musical sight-reading and transposing skills throughout her life playing the piano for the Primary and accompanying many soloists, vocal groups and choirs. She also enjoyed pieced quilt-making, decorating themed birthday cakes and playing card games. She supported her own, and expanded upon Bob's, love of collecting things, especially Bob's passion for clocks.
Coralie and Bob did almost everything together. After 31 years of marriage, Coralie was heartbroken when Bob passed away suddenly on October 20, 2017, but she was overjoyed recently when her marriage to Bob was sealed for eternity in the temple. Her family is comforted that she was able to accomplish this ordinance five days prior to her death.
We will lovingly remember Coralie's unfailing support of close and extended family and will dearly miss her until we meet again.
She is survived by her six stepchildren: Bradley (Blanche) Britton, Jessica (George) Herning, Loralee (Brandon) Owsley, Ryan (Georgianna) Britton, Valerie (Russell) Winder, and Richard (Brianne) Britton; 15 adored grandchildren: Megan, Camille "Cami", Alex, Lance, Tyler, Jake, McKenna, Ashlyn, Braxton, Josie, Tony, Abby, Devin, Landon and Nora; three siblings: Frank (MarJean) Christianson, Val (Janae) Christianson, and Rosalie "Rose" (Tom) Gledhill; sister-in-law Alexis Christianson; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her eldest brother Harlow Christianson in 2005, her father in 2007, and her mother in 2009.
A viewing will be held at the Bluffdale 13th Ward, 15429 S. Iron Horse Boulevard, Bluffdale, Utah 84065, on Friday evening, January 10, 2020, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning, January 11th, at 11:00 a.m., at the Bluffdale 13th Ward, with a viewing prior to the service from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Interment will be at the Murray City Cemetery.
