Christa Bessette "Biene"

Christa Bessette was born November 7th, 1936 in Berlin Germany. Christa made her transition on March 16th 2025 after a brief but valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.

As a German immigrant, she knew hardship and was driven to improve the lives of others in any way she could. It seemed that she could never quite enjoy something unless she was sharing it with others. She was nicknamed "Biene" which means bee in German, referring to her boundless energy.

She enjoyed boating on Lake Huron and a favorite memory of her family is the unique way she had of steering her boat with her feet. She loved combing the beaches of Michigan in search of treasures. She created mosaic beach stone and driftwood art with her husband Francis. The two of them traveled extensively. In 1989 following the fall of the Berlin wall they made a trip back to Germany. As a young girl she, her sister, and mother escaped the east zone crawling under barbed wire with trip alarms to Russian guard shacks along the border. She was able to reunite with family members left behind the wall during World War Two.

Christa retired from GM Saginaw Steering Gear. She was an avid gardener and later developed an appreciation of quietly reading in her sunroom overlooking the river where she lived.

She is survived by her husband Francis E. Bessette; children: Heidi Bessette, Rosie (Mark) Jacobs; grandchildren: Andrea (Blair Lapan) Behrmann, Barry Smith, Halie (Austin) Jobes; great grandchildren: Piper, Pippa, and Wren Behrmann, Jayden Dietlein, Laylah Jordan, Brantley Jobes and Jules Smith; siblings: Sonya Korthals, Peter (Laura) Kumnik, Ingrid (Ronald Smith) Vlassis; special nieces: Nicole and Amanda Vlassis. She was predeceased by her parents, Willy Brauer and Marguerite (Gunther) Kumnik, as well as her great grandson Archer Lapan.

It was important to her that First State Hospice be acknowledged, with special appreciation to her nurse Shena for her compassionate care.

A Celebration of Life for Christa will be held on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at Gephart Funeral Home. Officiating will be Rev. Viola Gonzales. The family will be present to receive visitors on Sunday at the Funeral Home from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wishes of the Family, please make checks payable to Heidi Bessette.