Krista Joanne Black

She was the daughter of Dr. Hugh and Shirley Black of Newport RI. Krista was born with Downs Syndrome, October 23, 1965, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Krista is survived by one sister, Kathleen Jayne Read (Greg) of Upperville, Virginia and one brother, Dr. William John Black (Rhonda) of Denver, Colorado. Krista is also survived by three nieces, Victoria Read of Santa Monica, California and Sophia and Abigail Black of Denver, Colorado.

When Krista was two years old, she and her family moved from Canada to Columbus Ohio, where her father, a DVM entered the Graduate School of The Ohio State University (OSU) for post-doc studies. Over the next five years Krista was mainstreamed in a class of preschool children at OSU Nisonger Center. She took part in the activities of her class and benefited significantly from these interactions and the speech therapy sessions taught by the student teachers.

As she grew older Krista progressed through the special needs’ classes in the Newton, New Jersey Halstead Public School and then through Newton, New Jersey High School, graduating in 1987.

Krista held various jobs during her lifetime. The job she enjoyed the most required Krista and her friend to collect draft documents from the offices of individual scientists in a large research laboratory. Following the pickup, the two women shredded the documents in their own work area.

Since 1993 Krista has enjoyed living, first in the Sussex Group Home and later the Holly Group home managed by the caring staff of SCARC. Krista was an active participant in the recreation programs of SCARC, especially bowling, swimming, and dance parties. Throughout her life, Krista’s greatest achievements were in swimming when she proudly took part in the New Jersey State Special Olympic competitions, winning dozens of medals. Krista also enjoyed taking part in travel programs for people with disabilities when they visited sites in the USA, England, and cruises to the Caribbean islands. She also travelled with her family to New Zealand and Canadian sites.

Krista loved to join her family and her childhood friends at their summer cottage at Dunks Bay, Tobermory, Ontario, Canada. At an early age Krista passed her Canadian Red Cross swimming examinations in the chilly waters of Dunks Bay on Georgian Bay,

Because of the distance between Krista and her parents, once they retired to Newport, Rhode Island, Krista continued to be supported by her favorite Co-Guardian, Jennifer from SCARC Guardianship Services Inc. to check on her wellbeing and to ease decision making according to her needs. This excellent connection helped both Krista and her family.

A Celebration of Her Life on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, from 12 noon to 2:00pm, will include a brief service and refreshments at the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High Street, Newton, NJ, 07860.

If you so wish, Memorial Donations can be made in Krista Joanne Black’s name to SCARC Guardianship Services Inc., 11 US Route 206 N, Suite 100, Augusta, NJ, 07822.

In Krista’s memory please celebrate her with a bowl of your favorite ice cream – a lifelong pleasure of hers.