May 7, 2023
Fein, Christa
Christa Ruth (Werk) Fein passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2023. She was 86 years old. She is survived by her husband Peter, married 62 years, her six children Cathe, Elke (Nelson), Susan (Don), Lissie (Peter), Peter (Avni), Stephanie and 11 grandchildren.
Christa was born on December 9, 1936 in Berlin, Germany. She was a preschool teacher before she came to the United States at 21 years old, where she worked as a nanny in New York City. In 1958, Christa met Peter on a blind date. They were married on June 17, 1961 in College Point, NYC. Christa and Peter have lived in Dover, Massachusetts since 1968.
When her youngest children were school age, Christa started her career as a recreational therapist. She brought music, poetry, and fun to the seniors at the Deutsches Altenheim for five years, and then the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in West Roxbury for 21 years. After she retired, she continued to volunteer at a number of senior facilities, including the Medfield Council on Aging, leading sing-alongs and crocheting hundreds of lap blankets for residents.
Christa’s joy, generosity, selflessness, and vivacity are cherished by her family and many, many wonderful friends. She had a deep faith in God and shined the love of Jesus everywhere she went. She was always looking for ways to help and bring cheer to others–in person, with uplifting cards she continually sent to family and friends, and gifting finds from “Mary’s Swap Shop”.
Christa was an avid hiker all of her life—a hike with Christa was always an “adventure.” She participated in hiking camps with the Appalachian Mountain Club where she was also the campfire song leader. She loved to play games and was a member of weekly scrabble groups. An avid gardener, Christa always had a colorful array of flowers growing in her garden and blooming in vases inside the house.
Music was a huge part of Christa’s life. She was a self-taught guitar player and could play most any song by ear. She was also a gifted singer, specializing in harmony, and was a member of many English and German chorale groups. Christa is well-known for her guitar-playing and singing in private settings, as well as performing at senior centers, camps, libraries, the Boylston Schul-Verein in Walpole, and anywhere she could share her joy of music. Every get together turned into a sing-along! In later years, Christa traded her guitar for a ukulele and she loved playing with the Happy Strummers, and had a regular group of friends play together at the house. In her final weeks of life, even though she was too weak to play much, a few days before she passed, Christa brought out her ukelele and sang songs to the residents at Bridges of Epoch as her final performance. Her life’s motto was “Friendship through Music”.
There will be a Celebration of Christa’s Life at Kraft Hall in Dover Center on May 20, from 1:30-4 pm. All are welcome. Address is Dover Church, 17 Springdale Ave, Dover, MA 02030.
If you would like to send a gift in her memory, these two options would be the most meaningful. A plant that we will add to her outdoor garden or a donation made to help her precious granddaughter, Christina, who has had a lifelong struggle with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. To make a financial contribution to help Christina Doherty, please send a check payable to: Doherty Family Medical Care -8501 And mail the check to:
Northern Bank and Trust Company
303 Main Street
Woburn, MA 01801
Comments(10)
We send our heartfelt condolences and admiration of a life well lived. Your mom set an example of how to love like Jesus.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,”
2 Corinthians 1:3 NIV
Friends of Susan @Hilton Head
Dear Fein Family…our hearts and prayers go to you and your family, but yet we celebrate her her1st steps with the Lord! The loss of a mother, Christa so unique & serving, is one of the deepest sorrows the heart can know. But her incredible goodness, her caring and wisdom live on in each of you…a beautiful loving legacy for you to also pass down! May love, peace and comfort surround you all now and on this journey ahead!
I truly feel like I was lucky enough to have the best mother ever. That brings my heart joy but it also makes this moment so difficult. Every day I will strive to choose joy, because that is what my mother would want.
I treasure my wonderful family and the beautiful community of friends and look forward to honoring my mother’s spirit by loving and caring for each other.
My heart goes out to Christa’s wonderful family…this is such a difficult loss, but you will always feel her close to you. When I joined the Boston Saengerchor in 1978, Christa was one of the first members to introduce herself and make me feel welcome. After rehearsals on Tuesday nights, we would stay for sing-alongs, which she led and accompanied on her guitar, along with Herta Voloshin on accordion. Her enthusiasm for music and for making people happy brightened so many get-togethers over the years…happy memories.
I always saw her beautiful smile and the guitar she seemed always to have in her hands, ready to break into song. I am very sad to learn of your family’s loss. Her loving spirit will be singing in Heaven forever. I wish you all peace and love with wonderful memories of a life full of music and generosity.
Dear Peter and family, my deepest sympathy to you and all of your children and extended family. It is such a loss for everyone, especially you. Christa was a lovely lady. I remember her well when you brought her into the Fein family. Her photo is exactly as I remember her. My heart goes out to all of you. I am just so happy that I got to reunite with her at Susie’s wedding. I was looking forward to seeing her again after that, but God had other plans.
Keep well and I will connect with you again.
Your Cousin, Alma
“Was man tief in seinem Herzen besitzt, kann man nicht durch den Tod verlieren”. (Johann W. Goethe)
Christa will stay in our mind and won’t be forgotten.
I sincerely hope her positivity and vividness will help you all to not let sadness overtake your life.
And I will remember her as a good friend with a good humor, the Boston-Berlin connection.
Flowers from the Fein garden are still blooming in Melrose.
Condolences with love
Gisela und Tibor
Dearest Elke, Nelson, Christina and Lauren,
I’m so sorry for this incredible loss. My deepest condolences and my only regret is that I wasn’t ever able to meet this incredible woman in person. I feel deeply blessed that she lifted me up in prayer, what a tremendous gift. May your deep faith and warm memories bring you comfort during this difficult time.
You are always in my daily thoughts and prayers. Much love,
Jessica
Peter, my whole family would like to convey our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Christa was a great person who always made us cheerful when we were with her at our Industrial piping family cookouts or when Susan and I had the opportunity to be with you and Christa.
God bless
My heart is with Lissie and the whole family, who have lost such an incredible beacon of light and love. May you not lose your bearings in this sad time. Her love for you is forever.