The New Era - All about Sweet Home since 1929

Christine Elizabeth Nyberg, 59, of Sweet Home, died June 2, 2022.

She was born April 27, 1963 to Donald and Roberta Nyberg in Florida during their service in the U.S. Navy. 

She inherited the gift of music and song from her grandmothers and her father, whose stage name was Don Cole, and graduated from Idaho's Mountain Home High School where she further honed her singing talent.

Ms. Nyberg performed in her small-town high school chorus at a Mt. Hood Community College Jazz Festival competition in Gresham, where they won a coveted award.

Her outgoing, entertaining personality served her well in her employment as a Liz Clairborne sales associate, hay combine operator, former Crescent Lake Resort bartender/mixologist/server, and finally at Spoleto's Italian Restaurant in Sweet Home, where she was manager and lead cook.  

Besides music, Ms. Nyberg was passionate about storytelling, jokes, and feeding people – other things she inherited  - and promoting dog, wolf, and veterans causes. It was not unusual to hear her, teaching her kitchen staff while singing (with attitude!) to her favorite music, like Aretha Franklin's "Respect," as she whipped up a batch of her well-known cheesecake desserts. She also sang "Cloudy Days" to her family's littles. 

She loved creating delicious food and the best cocktail and wine pairings for her guests, and a philosophy she shared with her father was that if you can do nothing else to help people, you can at least feed them.  

Ms. Nyberg came from a line of strong women and her grit was palpable during her recent cancer journey. She remained optimistic and hopeful during several hospital stays, and inspired family with her upbeat attitude. In the days before her death, she remained "Christine," with her signature wit and humor intact.  

Ms. Nyberg is survived by her sisters, Naomi, Lorrie, Lisa, and Allison; and many nephews, nieces, and great-nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Roberta Nyberg.  

In lieu of a memorial service, it was Ms. Nyberg's wish for folks to celebrate her life in their own way with fond memories, stories, good company, music, food, drink, love and laughter.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to her favorite causes of SafeHaven Humane Society in Tangent, wolf rescue, or to veteran organizations.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.