Hudson – Norma Jean Christensen, 87, a longtime resident of Hudson, died Monday, June 29, 2015 at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton after a long, loving, and graceful life.
“Jean,” as she was known to most, was born Oct. 13, 1927 in Jamestown, Tenn. She was the daughter of the late Reba (Cross) and the late Jacob Wakefield. She grew up in Grimsley, Tenn., married Roy Q. Christensen Jr. in Crossville, Tenn. March 29, 1947 and then moved to Hudson, where she lived for most of her adult life.
Notably, Jean worked at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn. as part of the Manhattan Project during WWII and later for many years as an underwriter at the Sentry Insurance Company in Concord. Above all, she enjoyed being with her family. She also enjoyed being outdoors, taking long walks, bird watching, and gardening.
Jean was the beloved mother of Michael Christensen (Paula Campbell) of Nobleboro, Maine, Rick Christensen (Yohanna Garcia) of Newbury, Terri Christensen Frankel (Allan Frankel) of Concord, and the late Jeffrey Christensen of Hudson. She was the blessed sister of Jonnie Hale of Jonesboro, Ga., Amy Bilbrey of Crossville, Tenn., and her late sisters, Irene Allred, Mary Elam, JoAnn Thompson, Bobbi Peltier, and Nell Hale. She was the loving grandmother of Beau Christensen of Denver, Col., Heath Christensen of Grafton, Marion Godin of Boca Raton, Fla., Jeffrey Christensen of Newbury, Kaitlyn Drew of Newington, Conn., Joshua Simmonds of Stoneham, and Ariana Frankel of Concord, and great-grandmother of Christian and Patrick Godin and Elsie Jean Drew. She was also blessed with many wonderful nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be celebrated Friday, July 3, at 11 a.m., at the First Federated Church, 200 Central St., Hudson. Burial will follow at the Forestvale Cemetery of Hudson. Family and friends are welcome to attend calling hours prior to the service from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St. Hudson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Jean to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 (www.alz.org).
