Christine Marthaler Kursch passed away peacefully on December 19 at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness. She was born in Bern, Switzerland on February 4, 1944, where she was raised and studied fashion design, including an internship with Christian Dior. She emigrated to Canada in 1966 where she worked as a model at EXPO 1976 in Montreal. Returning to Switzerland she met her future husband Donald, then a junior American diplomat, marrying him in 1968. She worked with him for the remainder of his 35 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, serving in Budapest, Moscow, Bonn and Brussels, where she represented the U.S. with exceptional grace, elegance and creativity. During their postings in Washington DC Christine worked with couture fashion at Saks-Jandel, Garfinckels, Bloomingdales and Elizabeth Arden, where she was the fashion manager of its Connecticut Ave. store. Her warmth, kindness and organizational talent touched many through her work as President of the American Women’s Club of Bonn, the American Club of Budapest, the Stauffacherin, a Swiss American Women’s Group in Washington DC and as an active volunteer at Annunciation Church. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, their daughter Catherine and granddaughters Zoe and Sasha of Kirkland Washington, her sister Anne Marthaler of Zurich, and brother Fritz Marthaler of Bern, Switzerland. A memorial service will be held on January 17, 2026, at 11:00 am at Annunciation Catholic Church, 3810 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC with a reception to follow.
