Christina Wilder

Christina Wilder (nee McSweeney), 1931 – 2023, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, a Weston, Massachusetts native, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2023, at the age of 91. Christina was born in Taur, County Cork, Ireland on June 5, 1931 to Kate and Jack McSweeney. She was one of nine children.

Christina was married to the late Joel Brenner Wilder for 63 years. They were very devoted to each other. They met while working together at E.B. Horn Jewelers in Boston. They had six loving children and ten beautiful grandchildren.

Christina’s strength of spirit, positivity, artistic flair, kindness and devotion to her family and friends was truly remarkable. She was a lively woman, quick to smile with an infectious laugh. She had a natural charisma and charmed everyone with her lovely brogue and stories of growing up in Ireland. She was born in a 200-year-old thatched roof cottage set among the fields of Ireland. She wrote a delightful book about her childhood entitled “From County Cork to Boston” in 2018.

Christina was an avid golfer who won several country club tournaments. In the last few years, she enjoyed her daily golf cart rides looking for alligators and slipping in a little putting with her daughter Karen at Old Marsh Golf Club. Christina was also a talented artist. She was a docent at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and volunteered at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, MA. She loved to garden and her gardens were full of glorious flowers every spring. She called it her “Irish Garden.” She was exceptionally stylish and enjoyed dressing up in fun and colorful outfits. Most importantly, she was devoted to her family and reveled in her many grandchildren. She also was a cherished aunt and will be particularly missed by her beloved niece Kathy McSweeney. Christina and her husband, the late Joel Brenner Wilder, were generous philanthropists and contributed to Bentley University, Beth Israel Hospital, Cape Cod Health Care Foundation, Jupiter Medical Center, the Irish Cultural Center, Pope John’s Seminary, St. Julia’s Church of Weston, Massachusetts, and St. Patrick’s Church of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

She is survived by Susan Wilder, husband Jeth Gold and Brennan Wilder-Gold of Oakland, California. David Wilder, wife Barbara Dunn, Ahna Dunn Wilder and Emily Dunn Wilder of Langley, Washington. Barry Wilder, children Georgia Wilder and Whitman Wilder of Huntington Beach, California. Tom and wife Suzi Wilder, Clare and husband Bob Gylling, Luke Wilder and Grace Wilder of Newton, MA. Karen and Hort Soper of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Kathryn Wilder, husband Steve Craig, Jack Craig and Thomas Craig of Pennington, New Jersey. She also leaves behind her sister Julie Verocchi and brother Owen McSweeney. She will be deeply missed by her large extended family in the US, Ireland, Great Britain and Australia.

Christina Wilder will be interred with her late husband Joel Wilder at Linwood Cemetery in Weston MA. In memory of Christina, donations can be made to Bentley University, 175 Forest St., Waltham, MA. 02452 or St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 13591 Prosperity Farms Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 22410.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.aycockfuneralhomejupiter.com for the Wilder family.