SUSAN E. CHRISTEN, a longtime resident of Oakland, lost a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease on Jan. 15, 2012. She died at Brighton Gardens in Omaha, where she had been living since Thanksgiving 2011. She was 86.

She shared a proud Swiss heritage, a determined spirit, a strong work ethic and a deep love of family with her husband, Hans G. Christen, who preceded her in death in 2004.

Suzy was born April 22, 1925, in the French-speaking region of Valais, Switzerland. She was the second oldest of seven children born to farmers Alphonsine and Joseph Emmanuel Burgener.

Suzy came to the United States in 1957 – two years after a chance meeting with her future husband, Hans, in Zurich. A fellow Swiss, Hans was en route back to the USA where he had been working as a butcher since 1955. While waiting for a visa to join Hans in Burwell, Neb., Suzy went to England to work as a nanny in an English-speaking household. Hans and Suzy were married April 6, 1957, in Burwell. In 1966, they moved to Oakland, where they owned and operated Oakland Meat Processing Plant until their retirement in 1987. Suzy was active in the Altar Society at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lyons, where they were members.

Survivors include daughter Christine Christen and her husband, Kurt A. Keeler, of Omaha; son and daughter-in-law, John and Sheri Christen of Lincoln, and their children, Hans, Konrad and Annelise;  sisters, Anny Burgener and Gabrielle Burgener, and brother and sister-in-law, Bernard and Marianne Burgener, all of Uvrier, Switzerland; plus several nieces and nephews in Switzerland.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Lyons, NE

VISITATION: Tuesday 3 - 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5 - 7 p.m. and 7 p.m. VIGIL SERVICE all at Pelan Funeral Home in Oakland. Visitation Wednesday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Oakland Cemetery

MEMORIALS: St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Lyons and the Friends of Oakland Foundation

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelanfuneralservices@hotmail.com