Christine Porter

Christine "Chris" Stoker Porter, age 54, of Delmar, entered into eternal life on November 12, 2017 surrounded by the love of family and friends. Born November 3, 1963 in Brookhaven, NY, Chris was raised in Delmar and graduated from Bethlehem Central Schools in 1981. She is the daughter of Warren and Arlene Howard Stoker, sister of Howard Stoker and mother of Rachel and Benjamin Porter.

Chris pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher by first earning a B.S. in Elementary Education from SUNY Plattsburg and then a M.S. in Education from Indiana University in Bloomington. She returned to Delmar to raise her children and built her twenty-year career teaching fifth grade at Glenmont and Eagle Elementary. Colleagues, former students and parents remember her as a tireless advocate and devoted mentor to children of all abilities and talents. She believed "one good year" of school could change the trajectory of a child's life for the better and she took this responsibility seriously from the time her students walked in her door to the moment she showered them with confetti as they left.

To know Chris Porter is to feel appreciated for your worth. She paid attention to details and she stopped to listen. Brain cancer mercilessly interrupted her life in July 2017 and she chose to keep living, greeting each day with resilience, strength and positivity.

Calling hours will be held at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie, 12205 on Thursday, November 16 from 4-8 p.m. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, November 25 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Delmar. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Bethlehem Music Association or the International Rescue Committee.