Kristine “Kris” Costerisan passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 14, 2013, at her home in Langhorne, PA and in the close presence of her loving life partner of 37 years, Elva M. Edwards. Kris fought a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer for over five years. Her strength and grace were incredible.

Kris was born at Mercy Hospital in Janesville, Wisconsin and was predeceased by her parents, Alice and Raymond Costerisan, also of Janesville, Wisconsin.

Kris graduated from Parker High School in Janesville, Wisconsin and has resided in Pennsylvania for over 40 years. She completed her chemistry degree at Rider College in New Jersey and has worked in the pharmaceutical industry during most of her career. She has most recently been employed with Imclone Systems, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly where she held the position of Associate Director of Training. Prior to Imclone, she worked for many other companies including Johnson and Johnson, Wyeth, Pfizer and Baxter. Kris was a very hard working, competent and dedicated employee and was privileged to have mentored so many people throughout her career.

Many people who knew Kris would say that she was one of the happiest, kindest and most loyal person they knew. Her smile lit up every room and her sense of humor was endless. Kris saw beauty and wonderment everywhere she went…from the simplest to the most complex of places and things. She showed great empathy to all people and animals.

Kris loved to travel and have fun. She especially enjoyed snorkeling the reefs of the Caribbean, hiking in Alaska and Costa Rica, fishing (since her childhood) and kayaking. In Kris’s circle of friends and family, she was always the “entertainer”. She loved to sing, especially selections from The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music. Kris will be missed by many.

In addition to her life partner, she is survived by her three siblings: Karen Fey (Linda) and Richard Costerisan (Audrey) of Siren, Wisconsin and Michael Costerisan (Karen) of West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Also surviving are her four nieces: Dawn Allen, Phoebe Weiss, Jennifer Keach and Jill Costerisan, as well as 2 great nieces and 2 great nephews. Kris also leaves many dear friends, cousins and one aunt.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, from 11:30 AM until her Memorial Service 1:00 PM at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Rd. (at Holland Rd.), Richboro, PA 18954. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Kris’s name can be made to the Bucks County SPCA, P.O. Box 277, Lahaska, PA 18931.