Mrs. Christine Lee Algren

Heaven gained the most perfect angel on May 22, 2024. Chris Algren was born in Hull, England in 1946. She was the daughter oft Wallace E. Owens of Fairdale, Kentucky, and Eve Lee Owens of Hull, England. Chris grew up in Fairdale, Kentucky and attended Kentucky Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a nurse. A consummate educator at heart, she also earned a Bachelors of Science and a Masters of Science in Nursing at the University of Louisville and then completed a doctorate in Higher Education Administration at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in 1989. As a nurse and educator, Chris left a remarkable legacy of nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing educators. Her career in nursing education started at Kentucky Baptist Hospital in Louisville and continued at Kosair Children’s Hospital, Bellarmine University, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She ultimately served as Dean of the School of Nursing at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, until her retirement in 2012 She authored numerous articles and book chapters in nursing publications and received many awards during her accomplished career. Her most prestigious awards include induction into Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society; selection as a University of Louisville Alumni Fellow and recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for the School of Nursing. She was recognized as one of twenty Outstanding Nurses in Houston and received the Flo Kidd Memorial Award for Outstanding Humanitarian Service. Shortly before her death, she was informed that Belmont University will honor her by dedicating a new Faculty Lounge at the George E. Inman College of Nursing in her name. Chris was a philanthropic humanitarian at heart. Along with her husband, John, she travelled to China, Kenya, the Philippines, Peru, Guatemala and Mexico to perform life-saving surgeries for impoverished children, while also providing clinical education to local nurses. While Chris was immensely proud of her distinguished career in nursing, her most cherished roles in life were as a loving wife, dedicated mother and, most of all, as “Nana.” Nana was the most nurturing soul to her cherished family. As loving companions, she and John enjoyed working together in pediatrics and traveling the world. They travelled to over thirty countries and five continents, making forever memories. Although Nana was an exquisite chef, some in the family say that her most prized cooking was preparing mac-and-cheese and applesauce for the grandchildren. She was a loyal confidante and best friend to her daughter, Dana, who admired the sacred ground she walked on. She was the loudest cheerleader and best hugger to her sons, Aron and Brian. Her favorite title was Nana to her four grandchildren. She would sit through rain, heat or cold to watch her grandchildren’s sports and school activities, and never missed the opportunity to celebrate a hallmark holiday and use it as an excuse to spoil them. She is preceded in death by her parents, Wallace and Eve Owens, and survived by her loving husband, John, daughter Dana (Kris), and sons Aron (Erin) and Brian (Erica) and four grandchildren: Jordan, Reagan, Moria and Owen. A celebration of life will take place on June 22, 2024 at 3 p.m. at UUMAN Unitarian Church 11420 Crabapple Road, Roswell, GA with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Chris’ name to the Glioblastoma Foundation, to advance research in treatment of this disease.

Mrs. Christine Lee Algren

April 5, 1946 - May 22, 2024