Christa Zygmunt

On Tuesday, August 11, 2020 our beloved mother and “Omi” to her four grandchildren, Christa Zygmunt met the loving embrace of Jesus and is now in his care. On this day, she regained all that Alzheimer’s took from her, her spirit and soul rejoiced, and she was greeted with love and joy by her husband of 50 years, Lucian.

Christa was born on December 24, 1942 in Munich, Germany to Anna Honold and Josef Riedinger. She was aptly named as a Christmas Eve baby, and was the youngest of six children. She suffered the early loss of her father, Josef, at the end of World War II when she was only three years old, and was raised by her mother Anna. Growing up in Germany during the time of post-war occupation she always said she and her friends liked the American soldiers best because they usually had candy for the children. Christa grew up with “wanderlust” – a desire to see the world – and she travelled throughout much of Europe in her teens and early 20s. In 1964, she decided to move to the United States, where she learned English mainly by watching shows like “F-Troop,” and “Get Smart.” Her family loved to hear all her stories about growing up in Germany and travelling the world.

While living in Chicago, Christa met her husband of 50 years, and they married on June 14, 1969, at Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois. They began their married life in New Orleans, where their two children were born, and then returned to the Chicago area, where they lived until they relocated to Houston two years ago to be near their grandchildren. Christa became a United States citizen in the late 1970s, and noted that she got a perfect score on the citizenship test. She worked in accounting and human resources for an office supply company, and despite multiple changes in ownership, mergers and acquisitions, was a valued employee who maintained her position with each change until she retired.

Christa was a recent parishioner of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and was a previous long-term member of St. Edna’s Catholic Church in Arlington Heights, IL. Her faith was extremely important to her; one of the last things she remembered is that she was Catholic, and her eyes lit up when Fr. Rick came to her for the Anointing of the Sick.

Christa was the best Mom and Omi in the world; she devoted herself to her family and always put them first. She was our rock in times of crisis, and supported us unwaveringly to pursue our dreams. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy, and they will forever remember being bounced on her knees to the tune of a German nursey rhyme: Hopp, hopp, hopp! Pferdchen, lauf Galopp! Über Stock und über Steine, Aber brich dir nicht die Beine! Hopp, hopp, hopp hopp, hopp! Pferdchen, lauf Galopp!

She loved to dance, and was a competitive ballroom dancer prior to her marriage. Dancing with her granddaughters was one of her greatest joys in her last years, even though she feared they would “break something” in doing splits and high kicks. Christa was an expert seamstress, with the ability to make anything from blouses to suits, to her own wedding dress and her children’s and grandchildren’s Christening gowns (a newer, even fancier one for the grandkids as she said “they aren’t going to wear an old one while I’m around”). She could knit and crochet sweaters, afghans and pretty much anything else you wanted, with her eyes closed (literally). The fast clicking of the knitting needles is a sound we will always associate with her. She cross stitched in her spare time, and was able to create many beautiful pieces without using any type of pattern – her mantra was “the back of the piece should look as good as the front.” Christa was happy to pass on her sewing expertise to her daughter and granddaughters, and to fix all our mistakes. She loved to garden as well and took great pride in designing and planting her gardens each year. Her love of travel continued throughout her life as we picked new destinations for family vacations each year, and she enjoyed a good romance novel – so long as everyone ended up happy at the end.

Her husband, Lucian Zygmunt precedes Christa in death. Her son Lawrence Zygmunt and wife Susan Hardy of Quincy, MA, and her daughter Catherine Zygmunt Svoboda and husband Ron Svoboda of Houston, TX survive her. Her four grandchildren (children of Ron and Catherine) - Anna Noelle (18), Morganne Eliya (16), Shaylee Rebekah (14), and Liam Nathanael (11) all of Houston, TX also survive her. She is so very loved and we will miss her forever; may her soul rest in peace.

Friends are invited to visitation with the Family on Monday, August 17, 2020, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm with a rosary at 6:30 pm at Earthman Funeral Home, Hunters Creek. A Mass of Christian Burial will held on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 beginning at 10:30 am at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 11720 Joan of Arc Drive, Houston, TX 77024; the Rite of Committal will follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.