Christa Rose Yusko, 86, of Howell, devoted wife, loving mother and dedicated friend to so many, passed away peacefully at Brandywine Assisted Living in Howell on Saturday, December 31, 2016. She was born in Mettingen, Germany on January 21, 1930, and grew up in Esslingen, Germany, in the Baden-Württemberg state of the country, during World War II. During her youth, she overcame numerous, immeasurable hardships due to the war. Wanting a better life, on December 19, 1963, Christa arrived in New York City after being sponsored to come to the United States to work as a domestic helper in the New Jersey seaside resort town of Spring Lake.

After she arrived in the US, she met Edward Yusko, who would become her beloved husband in 1965. On November 8, 1965, Christa and Edward wed and she became the first woman in Monmouth County to both marry and receive American citizenship on the same day. Christa and Edward lived in Asbury Park on Asbury Avenue before moving to Candlewood in Howell in 1966.

Christa worked for several years in the Howell Public Schools at Ardena Elementary School in Farmingdale before joining Stavola Construction, Co. in Tinton Falls as an accounts payable clerk. She retired in 1999 after 20 years of dedicated service.

Christa was pre-deceased by her husband Edward, in 1971. She is survived by her three daughters: Michele McCabe of Jackson and her husband, Michael; Diane Yusko of Howell and her boyfriend Stephen Germann; and Stephanie Knific of The Woodlands, Texas and her husband, Charles Knific; four grandchildren: Christian Knific, Ava Knific, Zachary McCabe and Kelsey McCabe; and a nephew, Harry Waible of Stuttgart, Germany.

A celebration of Christa’s life will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 from 4 to 6:30 PM with words of remembrance to follow at 6:30 PM. Interment will be private. For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.