Christina Taylor

Christina Elinor Skiba Christy Taylor, 85, died peacefully from injuries she sustained from a fall on Thursday, January 26, 2012, surrounded by her loving family in the Hospice Inn at St. Mary's Hospital, Troy, NY. Born in Poland to Elsbietta and Pavel Skiba on July 30, 1926, Christina survived WWII living in Budapest with relatives, after her parents' hometown of Bydgoszcz was invaded by the Nazis and her parents disappeared. In 1946 she graduated from the University of Budapest, where she studied English and Psychology. She married American Merchant Marine Officer John E. Christy on July 11, 1946, and immigrated to the US to raise a family. She lived in Texas most of her adult life, and was actively involved in the schools her children attended in Santa Fe and Houston, attending sports events and performances that took her all over the Lone Star State. Christina was a founding member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Hitchcock, Texas, and remained active in the Lutheran and Catholic community her whole life. Her energetic personality drew her to become President of the Women's League and the PTA, and she enthusiastically raised funds for those in need, be they orphans, hurricane refugees or the homeless. She was well respected as a supervisor at Foley's Department Store in Almeda Mall, a personnel supervisor at Methodist Hospital and a chemo-therapy technician at M.D. Anderson Cancer Institute. In 1972, her beloved husband of 25 years, John, died when his ship, the V A Fogg, exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico, leaving her a widow at age 45. Resilient and resolute, Christina purchased a small corner grocery, Christy's Cupboard, which she operated entirely on her own for 3 years. At this time, she met and married D. A. "Hap' Taylor on April 7, 1974. Lucky in love for the second time, she was a devoted wife to Hap, and moved to San Antonio as his electronics business grew. She quickly made new "friends for life" in San Antonio, and volunteered twice weekly at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC). In 1987, Christina published an autobiographical account of her survival of WWII, From The Dark Side of The Rainbow, an achievement which gave her great pride, and provided her children and grandchildren the opportunity to understand the war from her perspective. In 2004, after 30 years of marriage, her dear Hap Taylor died and Christina was once again a widow living alone. She continued to find solace in helping those less fortunate, and in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina refugees moved into an empty shopping mall nearby, she was quick to volunteer her help, stating "Misery loves company - they have the misery and I need the company!"
Christina was well known for her distinctive Polish accent, her contagious laugh, her generosity and her great compassion wherever she went. She was passionate about watching football & basketball, reading, and travel, but Christina's greatest joy came from spending time with her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She attended family celebrations with gusto, and always delighted in having her family around her. Grandchildren and great -grandchildren always found "Nina" fascinating, and they never tired of her stories. She moved to Niskayuna, NY, in 2009, to be closer to her family members who no longer lived in Texas. At 85, her ability to make new friends was never better, for she endeared herself to many people she met just before she undertook her final journey. She was a great role model in every phase of her life - daughter, wife, friend, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Christina is the beloved mother of John E. (Linda) Christy, Jr. of Cedar Park, TX, Timothy B. (Mary Lou) Christy of Great Falls, VA, Kimberly Christy Gordon of Niskayuna, NY, and Christopher S. (Kathy) Christy of Park Ridge, IL. She is the cherished "Nina" of ten grandchildren: Cindi Davies, Krissa Harkrider, Susanna Michalec, Ainsley Moloney, Tricia Mills, Caroline Organisciak, Stephen Christy, Lindsay Gordon, Brian Christy and Vitale Christy and nine great-grandchildren: Jack, Quinn, Ryan, Juliet, Oliver, Finnian, John "Jem", Kieran and Charlie.

A Memorial Service will be held locally Saturday, February 4, at 1 pm at Zion Lutheran Church, 153 Nott Terrace, Schenectady, NY. The family will greet callers in the Friendship Room at the church immediately after the service . Funeral service and interment will be in Houston, TX on February 25.

Those wishing to honor Christina's life may send a contribution in her memory to Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144 or to Operation Homefront at operationhomefront.net or to Zion Lutheran Church, 153 Nott Terrace, Schenectady, NY 12308.