Christine Bruce Astley (87) of Vero Beach, FL made her final bow on December 30, 2025 after a long and creative life filled with music, athleticism, and many cherished relationships with family, friends, musical colleagues and students. Her journey with Alzheimer’s could not stop her radiant smile or the twinkle in her beautiful eyes even as it deprived her of physical and mental abilities. Her strong and bright spirit continued to inspire many along the way, and will continue to do so.

Christine was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA where she was the fourth child and only daughter of Marian “Marnie” Colley Bruce and Archibald Duncan “Dee” Bruce. Her father was an accountant, avid gardener and reader and accomplished pianist, and her mother was a third-grade teacher even as she was busy cooking up a storm and raising the family. Christine and her next-oldest brother missed their entire 2nd and 3rd grade year due to whooping cough, which is when she developed her skills and passion for jigsaw puzzles. In her youth she was referred to as “Tina” by friends and family, but in her young adulthood she started introducing herself as “Chris.” However, she was always Tina to her family.

Chris attended Wellesley College (Class of ‘60) and was a Music Major, focusing on both Piano and Voice. After graduation she continued her studies in Paris with famed musician Nadia Boulanger, one of the leading composers, conductors and instructors in Europe. Later, in Boston, she continued her musical instruction throughout her adult life, with decades-long learning from opera vocalist Lorraine DiGrigorio. Chris’ musical career spanned nearly eight decades and included countless performances, as well as directing musical theatre at the secondary and collegiate levels, singing in several church choirs, co-authoring an operetta, and teaching hundreds, if not thousands of private piano and voice students. Her musical direction included a memorable interpretation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado at St. Paul’s School in which Rector Rev. Charles “Kelly” Clark and his wife Priscilla had leading roles right along with the students. Chris was talented and disciplined, passionate and joyful. Music was her primary language, and it was her joy to share and teach as well as to perform.

Her creativity also found its way into her hands as she made countless quilts as gifts for births and marriages in the family and baked traditional Scottish shortbreads each Christmas. She also loved to dance, and took tap, jazz and Scottish Highland dancing lessons well into adulthood. She loved tennis, running, yoga, and qigong, and brought others into those passions. She grew an abundant garden every summer in New England, filling plates and bellies with a variety of fresh veggies. Her energy was boundless.

She married Mason Royden “Roy” Astley Jr. in April of 1968. They lived in Worcester, MA; Concord, NH; Sheffield, MA; and Vero Beach, FL. In each place she was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation and choir, sometimes directing and performing as a soloist.

She is survived by her daughter, Anne Christine Lockhart Astley, and granddaughters Arya Marian Padnuk and Leela Lockhart Padnuk of Vero Beach, FL; and her son Mason Mills Astley, daughter-in-law Christina Mills Astley, and grandsons Alexander Scot Astley and Atticus Enzo Astley of Hanover, NH. She is also survived by many dear cousins and lifelong friends.

She was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Mason Royden Astley, Jr; her parents, and her three brothers Duncan Bruce, Roger Bruce and James Bruce.