For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

 

They made the Ultimate Sacrifice

 

Christopher Edward (Chris) Saunders

 

Lieutenant (Navy), C.A.F. (Navy)

 

Born: 07 Apr 1972, Saint John, New Brunswick

 

Died: 06 Oct 2004 at sea

 

Book of Remembrance

 

SAUNDERS, Christopher Edward, Lt (N), C.A.F. (Navy), died - 06 Oct 2004, HMCS CHICOUTIMI - son of Hugh (Trish) Saunders and Debbie (Stuart) Sullivan. Husband of Gwendolyn Ethel (nee Patterson) Saunders and father of Ben Saunders (age 2 years) and Luke Saunders (age 7 weeks). Son in-law of Reg and Sherald Patterson. Lt. Saunders attended Kennebacasis Valley High School outside of Saint John, New Brunswick. Lt. Saunders graduated with honours in 1990, later entering the Armed Forces on a full military scholarship. He was a Combat Systems Engineer on board HMCS CHICOUTIMI.

 

SAUNDERS, Christopher Edward, Lt (N) - 32, Halifax, lost his life while serving his country aboard HMCS Chicoutimi on October 6, 2004. Born in Saint John, N.B. on April 7, 1972, he was the only son of Hugh Saunders, Gondola Point, N.B. and Deborah (Hughes) Sullivan, Summerville, N.B. He attended KVHS and the Collège militaire royal de Saint Jean, Quebec in the R.O.T.P. program before being stationed to C.F.B. Halifax, Stadacona. Chris pursued his military career with great enthusiasm and was particularly proud to become a submariner. He was an avid biker and enjoyed golf, camping and woodworking. Most of all, Chris loved his sons and was so proud of watching them grow. He will be missed more than words can say. Besides his parents he leaves his beloved wife Gwendolyn (Patterson) Saunders; two sons Benjamin, age 2 and Luke, 7 weeks old; sister Melissa Saunders, Calgary; stepmother Trish Saunders, Gondola Point, N.B.; stepfather Stewart Sullivan, Summerville, N.B.; grandmother Dorothy O'Neil, Saint John, N.B.; two step brothers and a step sister; several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was predeceased by grandparents Stanford and Frances Saunders. Visitation will be held 2-4pm Tuesday, October 12, 2004 in T.K. Barnard Funeral Home, 3460 Dutch Village Road, Halifax. Funeral service will be 11 am Wednesday, October 13, 2004 in St. Andrews United Church Halifax. Private family burial will be at a later time. Donations in memory may be made to a Trust Fund for Ben and Luke at any Bank of Montreal.

 

Chris is buried in the Berwick Cemetery, Berwick, Kings County, Nova Scotia. He was from Quispamsis, N.B. and the new Elementary School built a few years ago was named "Chris Saunders Memorial Elementary School".

 

Ships served in:

HMCS CHICOUTIMI

 

Headstone for Lt, Saunders at the Berwick Cemetery, Berwick, Kings County, NS

 


 

In Service of Canada - RCN Peacetime Casualty Index

 

HOME PAGE     SHIP INDEX      CONTACT