WATERTOWN, NY — Christa U. Fish, 89, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, joined her husband Paul on May 26, 2019.
She will be greatly missed by all who had the good fortune to know her. Christa will be remembered as a hard working, driven woman with a kind heart who was a mother to everyone that crossed her path.
Christa was born in Jablonec, Czechslovakia, and migrated as a child to East Germany with her family.
She met and then married Paul when he was stationed with the Army at Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany. After their marriage, Paul brought his bride to the United States on the Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen M.S. Gripsholm, enduring a hurricane aboard ship on the way.
Christa stayed home with her children until they started school and then entered the workforce, working part time at the Dairyland Store, Carvel Ice Cream Store, the original F.W. Woolworth Store and then for the Office of General Services at the State Office Building.
As a young woman in war torn East Germany, Christa worked in the Henkel Champaign Factory. Her children were raised on war time stories from how their mother raised silk worms in school that ultimately ended up in parachutes to how she worked the “black market” to support her family.
Because she was not able to care for her own mother in East Germany, Christa devoted many years to caring for the elderly here and she loved each and every person as if they were family.
Christa enjoyed going to the casino with her neighbors. Her companion in her final years was her cat Lucky, without whom, she would have been lost.
Catching her great granddaughter at birth was the highlight of her life as she was able to be fully involved in bringing a new life into the world.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Ann Fish, Adams Center; her daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Bob Cullen, Henderson; her granddaughter and husband, Patricia (Stephens) and Luke Morse, Horseheads, and her great granddaughter, Calais Ambrose Morse, Horseheads.
A very special thanks to Christa’s caregivers, Linda Butts, Tina Lacombe and Amanda Smith, all of which provided tender loving care, companionship, compassion and patience.
Calling hours will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 31. Christa’s body will be cremated and her final resting place will be in the urn along side of her husband.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the SPCA of Jefferson County, or an animal welfare organization of your choice.
Online condolences may be made at reedbenoit.com
Arrangements are with Reed & Benoit Funeral Home, Inc.
