Christine Levan, 89, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away at Geisinger South Hospice on Saturday, May 27th, while surrounded by family.
The daughter of Ernst Sagert and Nanny (Née Schmich) Sagert, Christine was born in Berlin, Germany on January 26th, 1928 as Christa Hannelore Auguste Sagert. They enjoyed many happy memories vacationing along the Baltic Sea, prior to the war displacing her and much of her family. Christine attended school in Austria, where she graduated from Lyceum. She moved to London with her brother, waitressing by day and going out with her best friend Heidi at night. It was there she met the love of her life, American 2nd class Signal Man U.S. Navy, Frank Levan.
Christine emigrated to the United States in 1958 where her and Frank lived in Berwick and spent many days visiting Knoebel’s Grove, Rickett’s Glenn, and her beloved Bethany Beach, DE. She was a waitress at the Elk’s Club and the Berwick Golf Club. She lived her life for her five children, leaving a note before her passing, “I loved you my children from the bottom of my heart with a passion that cannot be severed by death.”
Christine, our “Nanny,” was a fun-loving, strong woman, who we will remember most for her smile and boldness. She loved cooking, gardening, dining out, and Rhine wine, which she attributed to her father, who was a wine salesman.
Christine was preceded in death by her brother, Rhinehart; her grandson, Jesse Berkheiser; and her husband, Frank Levan. She is survived by her daughters, Susan Johnson (Robert), Berwick; Cindy Berkheiser (Brad), Berwick; Francine Toole (Patrick), Wilkes-Barre, with whom Christine resided; Yvonne Fisher (the late Joseph), Wilkes-Barre; and her son, Frank Levan III (Lisa), Hobbie; and her grandchildren, Jenny Carlo (Jeffrey), Wilkes-Barre; Hannah Beach, Wilkes-Barre; Christa Johnson, New York City; Kylie and Shane Levan, Hobbie; as well as Derek Toole (Erica), Dallas; and Katie (Nick) Eddy, Pittston; and also her great-grandchildren, Jackson and Emerson Carlo, and Donovan Toole. She is also survived by nieces and nephews: Christy and Kim Parker; Debbie, Susan, Robert, and Michael Denby.
The family will be holding a private memorial service on Friday. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to Celtic Hospice, Geisinger South, whom we cannot thank enough for their kindness. We will remember our beloved Nanny, “In the green of the grass…in the smell of the sea…in the clouds floating by…at the top of a tree…in the sound crickets make at the end of the day…‘You are loved. You are loved. You are loved,’ they all say.”