Christa Bergstrand

Christa Bergstrand, 94, of Washington, Illinois, formerly of Hoopeston passed away at 9:35 a.m. Monday, March 14, 2016, at Reflections Memory Care in Washington. Her daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law were with her. In the days preceding her death she was surrounded by family singing hymns for her. A recording of those hymns was made and "I Can Only Imagine" was the song playing as she passed into eternal life.
Christa was born on September 25th, 1921, in Berlin Germany to Fritz and Hedwig Steinmeyer. She went to college in Berlin and worked as a chemist during her time in Germany. She married Glen Ziebart of the United States Army and their son Ralph was born in Germany in 1946. They moved to the United States and their daughter Christine was born two years later. They eventually settled in Hoopeston and Christa went to work at Food Machinery where she worked as a draftsman for twenty years. She later married Chester Bergstrand in 1973 and gained four more children; Diana, Cheryl, Steve, and Melanie. Christa and Chester were married for almost twenty-five years and enjoyed many trips together until his death in 1998.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brother Eric, who was killed in Russia during World War II, and her step-daughter Cheryl.
She is survived by- Ralph (Jan) Ziebart; Christine (John) Lotz; Diana Morris; Steve (Mary Janet) Bergstrand; Melanie (Paul) Cancialosi. Grandchildren are: Jenny (Tim) Graack; Eric (Jennifer) Lotz; Dana (Doug) Lamb; Ben (Christina) Bergstrand; Josh (Erica) Bergstrand and Tricia Phillips; Aaron (Susan) Snively; Scott Ziebart; Rachel (Michael) Nelms. She is also survived by seventeen great-grandchildren.
Christa loved her family and her home in Hoopeston. She was proud of her German heritage and said a part of her heart would always be there. She enjoyed volunteering at her church, knitting, listening to music, growing flowers, sitting in the sun, and working in her yard. She was loved by her family and by the staff at Reflections.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her remembrance may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Hoopeston or Reflections Memory Care in Washington, Illinois.
A Celebration of Mrs. Bergstrand's Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2016, at the First Presbyterian Church in Hoopeston, with Pastor Wade Meranda officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Friday at the church. According to her wishes cremation rites will be accorded following the service. The family has entrusted the Blurton Funeral Home to assist them in honoring Mrs. Bergstrand's life. Memories or photos may be shared with the family on her memorial page at: www.blurtonfuneralhomes.com.