Christina T. Howe

Christina Tilton Howe (Tilton) passed away at her beloved cottage in Rye, NH on October 25, 2022, from complications related to a long, hard fought battle with cancer. She was born in Arcadia, California on November 18, 1960, to Samuel Webb Tilton and Joy Tilton (Knauf), both were performers in plays and musicals. Her father was the original Baron Von Trapp in the Broadway version of Sound of Music! The Tilton family were the founders of the Town of Tilton, NH and her father was born and raised in what is now the Tilton Academy library. The legacy of the family can be seen all around the towns of Tilton and Northfield like the Arch and the Grecian statues throughout the downtown area. The family moved to Bronxville, NY soon after her birth and finally back to Tilton in the late 1960’s. She was involved in 4H excelling at sewing, knitting, and crocheting which she would hone and turn into a business opportunity later in life. Christina, or “Chris” as she was called, graduated from Winnisquam High School in 1978 and went on to get her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of New Hampshire in 1982. She did her internship in Arizona working with physically and mentally challenged adults and children. She moved back to NH and was employed by Portsmouth Hospital. There she helped to establish the Occupational Health Solutions clinic, a partnership between Portsmouth Hospital and Wentworth-Douglas Hospital at Pease International Tradeport. She was director of the clinic until she left in 1997. Chris became a renowned and recognized OT and was a teacher training other OTs literally around the world in many of the OT specialties. Her teaching took her to Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vancouver, Toronto, San Antonio, Chicago, San Francisco (one of her favorites) and many other cities throughout North America. She eventually ran and then owned what is now Matheson Education and Training Solutions (METS) based in Bedford, NH. She taught and ran the company right up until her passing despite her many health afflictions. In between having children and taking a short break from teaching, Chris was also a realtor working for Re/Max Synergy in Bedford until 2011. She was very good at crocheting and knitting and made and sold at craft fairs, unique scarves, and such with her sister Andrea under the Wise Women name.

Chris met Roger Burton Howe in 1995. Both had gone through a divorce, Roger having two children from his prior marriage. They wed in September 1996 in Rye, NH at what was Saunder’s on Rye Harbor. They never looked back and knew one day they would return to Rye and live out their days at the beach. The beginning of that dream started to materialize in July 2020 when they were fortunate to purchase a cozy cottage in Rye with a 6-minute walk to Wallis Sands.

Chris immediately, from the very first meeting, loved and accepted Roger’s two children, Andrew Bradford, and Rebecca Lynne. They went on to have three children together, Mathew Taylor, Brandon Tilton, and Jordan Mackenzie, completing the infield. The family moved to Bedford also in 1996 and raised all five children there. The family became members of Bedford Presbyterian Church where their three children were baptized. Chris supported all her children 110% in all their endeavors. From dance and ballet classes, theatre, Barbizon, karate, tennis, swimming, ice hockey, soccer, cheerleading, gymnastics, football, baseball, and of course, lacrosse, she was the ultimate Team Mom and her children’s number one fan! It’s doubtful that she ever missed more than a dozen games or events. She was also a coaching assistant for Jordan’s cheerleading squads.

Chris is survived by her loving husband of 26 years, Roger, her stepson Andrew Howe and his wife Jamie Lee Howe of Manchester, NH, stepdaughter Rebecca Hunt and her husband Joel of Claremont, NH, son Mathew Howe and his partner Kyra Burns of Manchester, NH, son Brandon Howe and his partner Elizabeth Keenan of Newmarket, NH, and daughter Jordan and her partner David Gianino of Boston, MA. Chris had five grandchildren of whom she adored. Riddick Howe (Andrew & Jamie Lee), Ethan, Bentley, Breyah, and Jayden (Rebecca & Joel). Chris is also survived by her sister Deborah Tilton Dario and her husband Edward of San Gabriel, CA, brother Dan Tilton and his partner Irene Lacy of Paauilo, HI, and her sister Andrea Tilton Adamczyk and her husband Michael of Delmar, NY. Nieces and nephews Brian Dario, Chris Nelson, Grace Adamczyk, and Faith Adamczyk.

Calling hours are Tuesday, November 1st, 5pm to 8pm at Phaneuf Funeral Home, 243 Hanover St., Manchester. Services will be held Wednesday, November 2nd at 11am at Bedford Presbyterian Church in Bedford. The burial will follow immediately after the service at Rye Central Cemetery in Rye, NH.