W. Chris Soave

The first 15 years of her life was traumatizing, living in Berlin during and after the war. Chris, never wanting to be penniless again, became a fashion designer and then a business woman. She never forgot the kindness of the American soldiers after the war and when she met Tony Soave, who was stationed in Wiesbaden, it was love at first dance. Because of his security clearance level, she received her US Citizenship hours before they married in 1960. They relocated to Washington DC, then to New York, and finally to the Florida Space Coast. Even with two small children, Chris worked hard to become a real estate broker, first for residential then commercial buildings. She speculated, built, and sold or rented many properties across Brevard County.

She was a dedicated Rotary member and very involved in helping the Hacienda Girls Ranch. She was also an involved member of the Eau Gallie Yacht Club for 40 years.

In 2010, Chris went to Pennsylvania to help after the difficult birth of her granddaughter, and suffered a debilitating stroke which left her right side virtually paralyzed. She re-taught herself to do everything with her left hand, use a walker, and was such a fighter that she was determined to stay in her home with minimal care for the next 8 years. It eventually became too difficult for her to manage a large house by herself so she moved into the lovely Riverview Senior Resort, with a stunning view of the islands she went boating to so often with her family.

She passed on February 7, 2020 and is survived by her son, Allan daughter Donna, and grandkids Alexander, Gianna, Siena, and Tommaso and many nieces, cousins and family. She is predeceased by her husband, Anthony Soave; parents, Erna Fingerhuth and Gerhard Strauss and sister Rosmarie Wallenberg.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Chris Soave to Hacienda Girls Ranch, 326 Croton Road, Melbourne, FL 32935.