Erna Christine (Simon) Held

Erna Christine "Chris" Held, 89, passed away at Hospice of the Valley Hospice House on May 4, 2016 from trauma suffered after a fall. She spent her final hours surrounded by family and listening to records of German music and her favorite musician, Elvis. She was born in Idar-Oberstein, Germany on September 26, 1926, the only daughter of Victor and Marta Simon.

She spent time during her childhood at her grandparent’s home in the country on the Mosel River where she also escaped the bombing of her hometown during World War II. After the war was over Chris worked at a bank in the border town of Alsace-Lorranine as a French translator, speaking four languages including German, French, Italian and English.

She met and married her former husband Robert Held while he was stationed in Germany with the US Army and came to America in 1954. Chris was incredibly proud of her United States citizenship which she obtained shortly after arrival. Chris and Bob raised 3 sons while living in El Paso, Texas and Vicenza, Italy before eventually settling in Struthers.

Chris was an active member of PTA including a term as president while her children were in school. The family spent many summers enjoying time at their summer cottage while boating on Lake Milton. She also loved to drive saying she would rather drive than eat and spoke often of the Vespa scooter she had as a young woman in Germany. In her later years, she had fun traveling with her nephew Stefan and his wife Gisela who would come from Germany to visit with her. Spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren was her favorite activity, regularly attending their sporting events and school activities.

Chris was a former member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Struthers and a current member of Good Hope Lutheran Church in Boardman, where she was a member of the Priscilla Circle.

Remaining to mourn her memory are her sons, Robert (Lori Grenich) of Boardman, Steven (Mary) of North Lima and Mark (Kathy) of Summerville, South Carolina; grandchildren Staccie (Jeff) Zilavy, Amy, Kristen, Steven Jr, and Emily Held; great-grandchildren Carly, Joshua and Benjamin Zilavy and Madelyn and Savannah Held; her brother Hans of Cologne, Germany along with many nieces and nephews and extended family Tom and Kym Ventresco and children Jett and Ty and Amy and Jeff Sabella and their children Nina and Nora. Chris was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Heinz and Claus and her former husband Robert.

Funeral services will be Monday at 6pm at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home, 11 Spring St. Struthers, with Pastor Robert Quaintance officiating. Friends may call prior to the service from 4-5:45pm on Monday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Good Hope Lutheran Church, 98 Homestead Dr. Boardman, OH 44512 or to Hospice of the Valley Hospice House 9803 Sharrott Rd. Poland, OH 44514.

Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.