Christopher R. Sheehan

Christopher (Chris) Robert Sheehan of Florida, N.Y., passed away suddenly on the 26th of July 2018. He was 55 years old.
He was born Dec. 26, 1962, in New York City to Catherine Jean (nee Herrmann) Sheehan and William Joseph Sheehan.
Having grown up in Chester, Chris resided in Warwick. He attended St. Columba R.C. School and was a 1981 Chester High School graduate. Well known in Chester and especially by neighboring teams as an avid soccer player and fierce competitor, Chris was often mentioned in the Orange County Post and Times Herald-Record sports sections. He was well liked by schoolmates and teammates, known for his great smile and big heart and for always sticking up for the underdog.
A special mention, Chris and his siblings were lovingly raised by their grandmother, Catherine Herrmann, upon the passing of their mother in 1975. They do not make them like her anymore.
Following high school, he and longtime friend, John Hechinger, created C & J Masonry, which stood fast for 20 years.
Later, Chris remained an independent contractor still working in the masonry field, for some time until accepting a job with Neil Barbaris Builders in West Milford, N.J., where he was still employed at the time of his death.
Chris met the “love of his life” Kathy Perryman in 1997 and together they made a home in Warwick. There they shared lots of love and raised Kathy’s grandson Tristen. Tristen completed their family when he was 4½ years old.
Over the course of 21 years and until Chris’s passing, they remained a loving family. He considered Tristen his son in every sense of the word and loved him unconditionally. They shared traditional father-son milestones and Chris took great pride in teaching him to tie his shoelaces and to ride his first bike and snowmobile. Hunting, fishing and driving were soon to follow.
Chris could not have been prouder when Tristen graduated high school and enrolled in college. As a family, they made many memories enjoying outside hobbies, traveling upstate and taking many vacations. Tristen always knew, no matter what, that Chris was always there for him.
He loved being in the outdoors almost more than anything else, but never more than Kathy’s cooking, especially her turkey dinners. In addition to hunting, fishing and camping, snowmobiling was also a favorite pastime. For years, Chris and longtime friend Keith Eberle spent many weekends upstate doing all these things and often included Keith’s father and other close friends. When remembering Chris, Keith mentioned there were too, too many trips to count, but even more memories that will last a lifetime.
Chris was preceded in death by his parents, maternal grandmother Catherine Elizabeth Herrmann and brother William J. Sheehan.
He is survived by his soul mate and the loves of his life, Kathleen Perryman and Tristen Martin of Warwick. Also, by brother John Sheehan of Vail, Colorado, sister Catherine Sheehan-Barney (Sean Barney) of Las Vegas, Nevada, sister Veronica DiFalco (James DiFalco, Jr.) of Arlington, Texas, and nephews Billy Sheehan of Boston, Massachusetts, and James DiFalco, III, of Arlington, Texas. Also surviving Chris are some uncles, and many cousins; too many to mention.
His sharp wit, loving and generous heart, and dry sense of humor, are already missed by many lifelong friends and most especially by his family.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of his Life will be held Sunday, Aug. 19, at Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Center, located at 139 Stage Road, Monroe, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Funeral Arrangements and Cremation Care have been entrusted to Thomas & Brendan Flynn, Directors of Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc. For Directions to the Funeral Home or to offer an online memorial please visit www.flynnfh.com.