It is with broken hearts that the family members of Christian M. Ironfield ("Chris"), Jr. announce his sudden death on November 22, 2021. He was sixteen years old.
Born in Lowell, MA on St. Patrick’s Day in 2005, Chris was the beloved son of Christian M. Ironfield, Sr. of Lowell and Julia Piller of Arizona. During his all-too-brief life, he lived in Massachusetts, New York and New Hampshire before returning to Lowell to reside with his father. Chris, a high school student, was enrolled in the CTI Youth Builders of Greater Lowell in which he was thriving in the program’s three education, career training and community service departments. The program enabled him, among other things, to participate in Habitat for Humanity projects and to assist weekly at the St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen at the Eliot Presbyterian Church, charitable endeavors that exemplified the compassion and desire to help anyone in need that he demonstrated all of his young life.
Chris’ caring and genuine warmth and friendliness were also evident in his easy affinity with animals, from rescued strays and family pets to his own horse, Tubby. He enjoyed riding and sports in general, but was probably happiest in the water, swimming in the Atlantic on Cape Cod or just in his great-grandmother’s and friends’ backyard pools. He loved to travel, enjoyed video gaming as much as the next teenager and listened to all types of music, but particularly rap. Chris was inquisitive, naturally funny, keenly intelligent, devilishly witty and playful, insightful, loving, honest, kind, very brave - and so much more. He was the joy of our lives.
In addition to his devoted father and mother, Chris is survived by his brother, Kyle Alicea; paternal grandmother, Joanne Hurley Locicero; maternal grandmother, Sheila MacMaster; uncle, Sean M. Hurley and his wife, Tabitha, of Pennsylvania; aunt Pamela Swinimer of New Hampshire; great aunt, Suzanne Hurley; family friends Kelly Galvin and Sean J. Maciejewski and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and great friends.
Chris was predeceased by his paternal great-grandmother, Doris G. Hurley and his great uncles Francis L. Hurley, Jr. and Richard F. Simpson.
Private services were held at McDonough Funeral Home and St. Mary Cemetery. Our great thanks to Rev. Nicholas A Sannella, who officiated.