Born Christel Regolinski on December 17, 1926 in Bremen, Germany to the late Otto and Martha Regolinski, Christel was one of three children. She grew up in Germany along with her sister, Eva, and a brother, Sony, who preceded her in death.
She is survived by her sons, Michael (Janet Woolman) Rafferty, and Bruce (Mary) Rafferty, both of New Jersey; sister, Eva Fahlbusch of Oyten, Germany; two grandsons, Brian (Megan) Rafferty and Kevin Rafferty, also of New Jersey.
While working in the Army Signal Corps in Bremerhaven, Germany, she met her future husband, James “Jim" Rafferty of Clearfield, PA. She moved to the United States where she became a US citizen and married Jim in 1952.
Chris worked as a bookkeeper at Hialeah Race Track in Florida and also the Cherry Hill Inn in Cherry Hill, NJ for many years before moving to NC. Chris and Jim retired to Greenbrier in New Bern in 1992 where Chris remained after Jim's passing in 2002.
Chris was very active in the community and the Greenbrier neighborhood including groups such as Master Gardeners, Widows Club, Ladies Mah-jongg, German Club, and the Backwoods Neighbors Group.
She enjoyed all things of beauty in nature: flowers, birds, and animals of all kinds.
Chris was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and her Greenbrier neighbors. She would always make you feel welcome in her home with a hot cup of tea and kind words or a good laugh to all those that visited her.
Please join the family at a Memorial Service to celebrate Christel's life at 12:00 pm Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Cotten Funeral Home, 2201 Neuse Blvd, New Bern, NC, 28560.
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