Unexpectedly, Cristal Nell (nee Choo-Kang) passed away at home in Seattle on July 24, 2020 at the age of 42 years. She is survived by her children Gabe (13) and Scarlett (10), sister Candice, boyfriend Brad, father and mother Curt and Chitra, and paternal grandmother Irene. Although born in London, Cristal spent her formative years in the Caribbean. She moved to Georgetown, Guyana when she was 2 years old and then Port-of-Spain, Trinidad when she was 7. The Choo-Kang's house was a perennial gathering spot: she was surrounded by many "uncles" and "aunties" playing all sorts of games in lieu of television. The family emigrated to the US when Cristal was 11, eventually settling in Valparaiso, Indiana. She finished high school early at 16, and then studied at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, graduating cum laude with a Business and Economics degree in 1999. The next year, Cristal fell in love with Seattle where she would stay for good. She loved Mt. Rainier, the Seahawks, and the Pacific skies at sunset. And Frasier. By day, Cristal worked as a technical recruiter for Microsoft; by night, Cristal pursued her passions of the time: Latin music and salsa dancing. Her true passions — motherhood and bridge — would evolve after falling in love with Garett and saying her nuptials with him in 2005. . . . Cristal's life was forever changed in 2007 with the birth of Gabe, and subsequently in 2009 with Scarlett. She stepped away from her position at Microsoft to focus on motherhood full time. She embraced this role with enthusiasm and seriousness, teaching the children everything they could possibly absorb. And absorb they did. When Gabe was school-aged, Cristal moved the family from her favorite Redmond house so that her children could more easily attend Seattle Country Day School. This difficult change was a no-brainer, as her number one priority was to provide an environment in which her gifted children could thrive and excel. Both Gabe and Scarlett will endure with the qualities of their mother. They are beautiful and smart, and they have a love for reading and a passion for learning. They enjoy games, competition, and fair play, have an open mind to try new things, and exude the strength to be creative without fear of reprisal. Cristal will be forever with them: Gabe and Scarlett are her legacy. In 2006, Cristal was introduced to casual bridge by close friends at a dinner party, but in a very short time her interest would become anything but casual. Thereafter, whatever attention she could afford away from Gabe, Scarlett and Garett was spent on bridge. Cristal played bridge, read about bridge, discussed bridge, and breathed bridge. She always said how it took her 28 years to find something in life she was good at; playing bridge was where she belonged. She rigorously and tenaciously competed locally, regionally and nationally. Cristal’s hard work paid off in 2017 when she won a national championship. Cristal also taught and directed bridge. She was a great ambassador of the game: a role-model to some and adored by many. The bridge community have posted their own obituary page here - https://bridgewinners.com/article/view/rip-cristal-nell/. . . . Newly separated in March 2017, Cristal returned to the world of work after a 10-year hiatus. Supervisors and colleagues at HeyThrivy (a personal assistant startup) and Prime Team Partners (a technical recruiting firm) remarked at her constant dedication to quality, teamwork and mentorship. Like elsewhere, Cristal was loved and admired by her peers. Beyond work, family and bridge, Cristal was a sports fan, most notably of superstar Roger Federer, but also a boisterous fan of the Seattle Seahawks and the Duke Blue Devils. She enjoyed yoga and distance running, completing a half marathon in 2011. Cristal treasured music, with the soundtrack from Hamilton and anything by the band Muse being her favorites. She also sang her heart out at karaoke, especially Me and Bobby McGee. In her frequent participation at pub trivia she anchored the music category. Cristal had a passion for Harry Potter, jigsaw puzzles, and the New York Times Crossword, which she completed nearly every day. She loved eating at Seattle restaurant How to Cook a Wolf, and was a regular at Highliner Public House and Nickerson Saloon, where she had a taste for red wine, dark beer, and peaty scotch. And hot pepper sauce. People who knew Cristal well knew she was much more than just a pretty face. With fierce concentration and focus, Cristal was a force in everything she did, not the least of which was as a loyal supporter of her dearest family and friends. Sadly, Cristal struggled with anxiety and depression most of her life. She often had a pessimistic outlook. She was taught at a young age that she was not lucky, and she took that message to heart, being oversensitive to the lows and mostly immune to the highs. That made Cristal into the person she was: one who had difficulty internalizing compliments and appreciating achievements, and one who used her self-critical nature to drive her excellence in the pursuits that mattered most - like being a mom to Gabe and Scarlett, and also bridge. The family has been touched by the shared memories and other tributes — Cristal was dearly loved by many. The irony to feel so desolate during life, but to be so cherished in death may serve as a reminder to share our warmest feelings with those we hold most dear while we can. And to be kind. It is important to remember that no matter how smart, capable, or loved you are, depression can overcome you. . . . In lieu of flowers, the family would ask you to memorialize Cristal through a charitable donation: Click on web address of charity below. - The American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide (Washington Chapter). https://afsp.org/chapter/washington - In The Forefront. https://intheforefront.org/ . . . Starlight — by Matthew Bellamy Far away
The ship is taking me far away
Far away from the memories
Of the people who care if I live or die
The starlight
I will be chasing a starlight
Until the end of my life
I don't know if it's worth it anymore
Hold you in my arms
I just wanted to hold
You in my arms
My life
You electrify my life
Let's conspire to ignite
All the souls that would die just to feel alive
Now I'll never let you go
If you promised not to fade away
Never fade away
Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations
Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations
Hold you in my arms
I just wanted to hold
You in my arms
. . .

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Evergreen-Washelli.com for the Nell family.

July 7, 1978 – July 24, 2020