Kristine Rollins Griggs

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kristine Rollins Griggs, affectionately known as Mom, Momma, Mama Kris, Aunt Kris, and her favorites, Mommy’s Mommy or Grandma. After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Kristine left this world on May 21, 2023 surrounded by her four children, sister, and husband.  Born on May 3, 1951, in Fort Dix, New Jersey, she was the beloved daughter of George and Marian Rollins and sister to Denise House (Dan House) and Cindy Carbary (Kevin Carbary).

Kris was an Army brat and after some time living in Europe, she spent most of her school-aged life in Chesapeake, VA where she graduated at the top of her class at Churchland High School and later at the Obici School of Nursing.  She continued her academic excellence at St. Leo University, earning a B.A. in Psychology and graduating summa cum laude.  

She met John when she was 15 and began a relationship that would result in an almost 53 year marriage.  Together, they built a life filled with love, strength, and cherished memories.  Their unwavering bond was an inspiration to all who knew them.  She was an amazing mother who lovingly raised all four children and supported her husband as he worked his way to become a Colonel in the Air Force. John and Kris have four children: Stephanie Pergeorelis (Ken Pergeorelis), John Griggs (Denise Griggs), Michael Griggs (Chris Griggs), and Kristine Friemoth (Martin Friemoth). Kris was all about her family.   When her family was young and small, they needed her to work, so that is what she did, as an RN in surgical and cardiac acute care.  As the family and John’s military career expanded, it was decided that the family needed her to stay home, where she stayed very busy. She volunteered at school, church, the Base Thrift Shop, and the Officer’s Wives Club.  As a military wife, she often had to bear all aspects of parenting duties due to John’s travel.  She never complained about all of the taxiing to the various sports and after school activities, helping her kids with their homework at the dinner table, preparing dinner, or moving to ten different locations over the years.  There is nothing she wouldn’t do for her husband and kids.

Those kids then turned around and had kids and those were the light of her life. Kris leaves behind eight adoring and adored grandchildren: Zachary Pergeorelis (Hayley Pergeorelis), Bailey Pergeorelis, Jackie Griggs, Joe Griggs, Maddie Friemoth, Eli Friemoth, Rosie Friemoth, and John Michael Griggs.  She delighted in every milestone, shared in their laughter, and created cherished memories with each of them.  She also leaves behind two nephews: Josh House (Whitney House) and Jason Carbary, and a niece, Jennifer Carbary Flesher. In addition, she was so excited by the possibility of meeting her first great-grandchild, Maddox Pergeorelis, who is due in three weeks.

After she was given a year to live 14 years ago, she proceeded to meet four of those grandchildren and two grand-nieces (Sadie and Gracie House) who doctors never thought she would meet.  Her family, especially those grandchildren and their hugs, fueled her fight to live. With John by her side, she watched, supported, cheered, (and occasionally, jeered), at event after event.  Woe to any teacher who called home about a grandchild or a coach (who was most often her son) didn’t play him/her enough; she loved those kids unconditionally.  Whether it was dancing, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, a piano recital, concert, or dog sports, she was there.  

There was nothing she loved more than spoiling her grandchildren. Whenever they would come over, it would be like walking into a Willy Wonka Factory.  Along with “loving ‘em up, sugaring ‘em up, and sending ‘em home,” she would take her grandkids to museums, festivals, amusement parks, crabbing, and more. She pushed her body to the limit every single day...just to make the people around her as happy as possible - because that is who Kris Griggs was–endlessly selfless, always faithful.  

Though mostly a quiet person, an amazing trait she possessed was an openness and sincerity that strangers seemed to find therapeutic.  It was common for us to ask her how her day was, only to find out she met some random person at Costco and within 15 minutes, the person was sharing information that people normally only divulge to close family. For those 15 minutes, she became family and really listened to those strangers in their time of need.  

Her unwavering spirit, strength, love, and  positive outlook will forever be remembered.  May her spirit continue to guide and inspire us, and may her memory be a blessing to all who knew her.   A celebration of life will be held on Friday, May 26th, at 5:00 pm, with a memorial service at 6:00 pm.  The location is Hodapp Funeral Homes, 6410 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Liberty Township, OH 45044.  

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Kristine Griggs' memory to the University of Cincinnati Foundation, UCMC Barrett's Cancer Center.

Kristine Rollins Griggs, our wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend forever remembered, forever missed, forever loved, and forever in our hearts.