Faith-Filled Family Honors Husband & Father Through Laughter, Love & Resilience
When Heather Condict met her husband, Chris, at a Packers game, neither knew just how profound their shared love of football and life would become. Married in 2006, the couple spent 17 years building a life rooted in faith, family, laughter and community.
Everything changed in June 2022, when Chris was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
“It was never-ending treatments, including chemo, immunotherapy and clinical trials, but nothing worked,” Heather says. “After 17 months, he went to hospice, and we lost him on Nov. 17, 2023.”
The Condicts, a family of remarkable resilience, embarked on a different kind of journey — one focused not just on mourning, but on intentional joy. Unlike many families struck by sudden loss, they had time to prepare. Chris, ever the steady and faith-filled leader of their family, made it clear he didn’t want sorrow to define their lives.
“He was goofy, faithful and so strong,” Heather says. “Even when we told the kids about his diagnosis, I was overwhelmed.”
But Chris’s message was consistent: live, laugh and keep going. He didn’t want a headstone. “I’m not there,” he told them. “Don’t sit by a rock crying.”
That strong foundation gave Heather and their children — EJ, Elle and Emily — permission to grieve openly, but also to laugh sometimes through tears.
The Condicts quickly learned that grief looks different for everyone. Sometimes that laughter is a respite for the family.
“We laugh a lot,” Emily says. “Sometimes we’ll say, ‘Dad’s shaking his head at us right now.’”
They’ve found joy in small things and silly memories. They keep his spirit alive by repeating his favorite sayings, joking about what he’d say in a given moment and celebrating his larger-than-life personality.
From the beginning, the Condicts leaned on their community. Holy Cross Church and School wrapped them in support. Teachers helped notify others, and friends showed up with meals, rides, prayers and more.
Perhaps the biggest blessing came in the form of Aunt Lisa, Heather’s aunt from Wisconsin, who became their “gatekeeper.” She managed communication with extended family, helped coordinate funeral arrangements and ensured Heather and the kids had space to breathe.
“Everybody needs someone like that,” Heather says. “You’re overwhelmed, you’re grieving. Having someone who can step in and say, ‘I’ve got this,’ is priceless.”
Chris found his greatest joy on the water, and their boat was the heart of family fun. When the engine blew out shortly before his passing, Heather faced a difficult choice: sell the boat or rebuild it.
“I was a self-proclaimed ‘passenger princess,’” she says. “I didn’t want to drive it. But Chris always wanted me to learn. So I decided to fix it, and we’ve been on it more than ever this summer.”
Now, lake days are sacred. They bring comfort, connection and peace. “It’s where he’d want us to be,” Heather says.
The family also continues to bond over football, Chris’s lifelong passion. He played in college, coached EJ and never missed a Colts or Packers game. Today, EJ manages his fantasy football team in his dad’s honor, and the family still attends games together.
Faith continues to be a cornerstone for the Condict family. They attend church every Sunday and have found deep friendships with other families walking similar paths. “One of our closest family friends is also a widow,” Heather says. “Our kids are close in age, and we walk this road together.”
When asked what they’ve learned about themselves, Heather and the kids reflect quietly.
“It’s okay not to be okay,” Elle says.
“But being real and letting people see the hard stuff — that’s what creates connection,” Heather says.
“Joy is a choice,” Emily adds. “You can sit in sadness, or you can try to find happiness. We choose joy.”
That decision — to find light in the darkest days — is what keeps them moving forward.
As Chris and Heather’s wedding anniversary approaches Sept. 30, the Condicts will no doubt spend it as they do most days: remembering, laughing and choosing joy together.
