February 28, 1929 – February 4, 2018
Xenia A. Christiansen, 85
Chatham, MA - Xenia A. Christiansen passed away peacefully Sunday, February 4 2018.
Born on February 28, 1932 in San Nicolas, Aruba to John and Beatrice De Abreu. She was the second eldest of seven children.
She came to the United States with her family in June 1940 at 8 years old. She became a citizen in 1946, settling in New York City.
Being a remarkable scholastic achiever, she was recruited to the prestigious Bronx High School of Science, from which she graduated in 1950 with a full scholarship to Adelphi University. She earned her baccalaureate degree in nursing in 1954. She later continued school at Columbia University in New York, having graduated in 1959 with a masters in nursing.
Xenia's Spirit of hard work and determination continued as she traveled the country giving seminars on nursing until 1962 when she married to her husband Johan.
In 1964 she gave birth to her first son John and in 1968 her second son Peter. In 1969 she left her position as the head of The nursing school at Cape Cod Hospital in 1970 she went to work as an instructor of nursing at the Cape Cod Community College where she became a professor known for her demanding excellence from all her students. In 1988 she retired Professor Emerita of Nursing at Cape Cod Community College to enjoy her family and to travel abroad.
She especially loved the hot summer says on the beaches of Chatham. In her retirement she volunteered her time at the Cape Cod Literacy Council.
Her life was filled with many interests. Xenia was a seasoned traveler, who chronicled her travels on Kodak dated and tucked away in her extensive collection of albums. Whether it be waking in Capri, sheltering in the shade of the Arch of Constantine in Rome, exploring the fjords of Norway with her former husband Johan, bustling through the thick crowds of New City with her 5 foot frame , picking out her next favorite scarf in a quaint little store in Paris or enjoying beautiful sunset of Chatham. She never missed the opportunity to celebrate each and every birthday, holidays or just having the family together. Life was everything to her, her vivacious spirit and zest for life made her the pillar of strength for her family. Xenia was an anchor to all that came to her shore, a shoulder for the weary, a woman of great virtue and above all a fearless leader in all that she did.
She will be remembered as an intelligent hard worker devoted to her family; she will live on as an example to us all. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her sons John and Peter Christiansen of MA, her grandsons, Daniel Fabyan Christiansen, Thomas Fabyan Christiansen and their mother Paula Fabyan. Also survived by her siblings Yvonne and Lenny, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Holy Redeemer Church at 57 Highland Ave, Chatham, MA 02633.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to be sent to: The Alzheimer’s Association.
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