Christine Koester, 48, of Shrewsbury

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Christine Koester, 48, of ShrewsburyShrewsbury – Christine Koester always put the needs of others before her own and wanted everything for them and nothing for herself. There wasn’t a gift she gave to family and friends that wasn’t thought filled and given with meaning and most especially…love.

Christine’s life was a gift of love to all who knew her. Her eight year battle with breast cancer came to its end on Friday evening, March 24, 2017, surrounded by people she loved. She was 48.

Born on March 12, 1969 in Needham, she was a daughter of Audrey K. (O’Neil) Emmerich and the late John J. “Jack” Emmerich. Raised and educated in Needham, she graduated from Needham High School with the class of 1987. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from University of Massachusetts – Amherst and later her Master’s degree in early Creative Arts in Learning from Lesley University.

Christine enrolled in a real estate class, and while taking these courses she met Hartsdale, N.Y. native Stephan Koester. They later married at the Paine Estate in Waltham Oct. 12, 1997. They lived a short while in Arlington before making their home in Shrewsbury in 2000. Christine worked as an operations administrator for Sepracor Co. in Marlborough.

Double the pleasure…double the fun…double the blessing! Christine and Stephan welcomed into the world their twins on June 12, 2003. They brought them immeasurable joy and happiness and completed their worlds. Morgan and Zachary will know the love of their mother all their lives. She loved being their mother and always welcomed projects at their home with crafts or other hobbies. Her sisters describe Christine as one of the softest and sweetest people. Selfless but determined they also coined her personality…when she wanted to get something she got it.

In her 40th year and first mammogram it was detected she had breast cancer. Life took new focus, priority and perspective for Christine and her family. Her love for color and style carved her an ideal position with Mary Kay Cosmetics. It was fun and allowed her to create her own hours. It afforded her the ability to stay at home to raise Morgan and Zach and create memories while tending to her medical needs. She will be very much missed but Christine now knows peace and is free from the complications of her disease.

In addition to her husband of 19 years, Stephan, she leaves their twins, Morgan E. and Zachary R. Koester; her mother, Audrey Emmerich of Needham; her sisters, Katherine Hersh and her husband Lawrence of Nashua, N.H., Barbara Barakat and her husband Gil of Clayton, N.C., and Denise Sullivan of Needham; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Norman and Doris (Rexer) Koester of Sarasota, Fla.; her brother-in-law, Thomas Koester and his wife Dawn of Western Springs, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Christine’s life by gathering for calling hours Saturday, April 1, from 9-10:45 a.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, before walking in procession to the First Congregational Church, 19 Church Rd., where her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m.

Continue Christine’s struggle to eradicate cancer with a donation to UMass Cancer Center for Excellence, Office of Advancement, 333 South St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.

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