Published in the August 28, 2015 edition
WOBURN — Christina J. (Karreman) Bishara, 92, of Woburn and formerly of Dedham, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 16.
Christina was born in The Hague, Holland, one of three children of the late Elisabeth J. (Haak) and Johannes Karreman. She was raised in Holland before being sent to work in Germany during World War II. While working, she fell in love with an American soldier and they would soon marry. Following his deployment, she returned to the United States with him and they lived on East Brookline Street in Boston for several years before settling in Dedham to raise a family
Christina was a strong, independent woman who dedicated herself to providing for her family. After immigrating to the United States with limited resources, she received a job as a seamstress at the Bridal Shop, Priscilla of Boston. With great perseverance, she rose to become the seamstress for sample gowns for the bridal showroom. She took great pride in working her way up from the bottom and reaching her position as forelady.
Always purposeful and goal-oriented, Christina was the backbone of her family and tried to make the best of what she could for everyone. She worked hard to save enough money to buy their first home, their first car and continued saving. She also sponsored the travel of her sister and parents to come to the United States and supported them when they arrived.
During her free time, she loved doing crochet throughout her life and enjoyed games and cards. She enjoyed leading her friends and neighbors in friendly games of Bingo while living at New Horizons in Woburn.
Christina was the wife of the late James C. Bishara. She was the devoted mother of James J. Bishara and his wife Monica of Baton Rouge, La. and Dorothy A. “Dotty” Pullo and her husband Ralph of Stoneham. She was the dear sister of the late Alida “Totie” Vandervalk and Johannes Karreman. She was grandmother of Andrea L. Thomason and her husband Tim of Cape Canaveral, Fla., A. Davidson and her husband Eric of North Reading, Elizabeth A. Windust and her husband Philip of Ashburn, Va. and James A. Bishara and his wife Danna of Lafayette, La. She was the loving great-grandmother of Caleb Thomason, Noah Thomason, Juliet Davidson, Tyler Davidson, Marisol Bishara, Cosette Bishara, Connor Windust and Sebastian Windust.
Relatives and friends will gather in honor of Christina’s life for a memorial service at Grace Chapel, 59 Worthen Rd., Lexington at a date and time to be announced.
Gifts in her memory may be made to the New Life Home for Women and Children, PO Box 148, Manchester NH 03105, www.newlifehome.org.
For directions or online tribute, RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
