Christa Fein

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