Beulah S. Christal

"Bea” as she was known to friends and family, was born in San Francisco to Deborah Jones and William Alvord Wolff. She grew up in a family with six children during the years of the Great Depression. The Wolff children included Geraldine, William Alvord II, Harold, Beulah, Lois and Dorothy. The siblings formed a tight bond and remained close throughout their lives, enjoying many wonderful and memorable holidays and family events together.

She graduated from Mission High School and worked at PG&E after World War II where she met her husband Neil J. Christal. They married in December 1949 and migrated "very far away … all the way down to the Peninsula” in the early 1950s. She was a loving wife and mother who had a passion for cooking and gardening, which she enjoyed for many decades. In the 1960s,  Bea and Neil faced devastating grief with the loss of their two young children, Marita Ann and Phillip Jon, to Cystic Fibrosis. They carried on admirably and stoically to raise their other children Neil, Michael and Kathleen in San Bruno.

In later years, Bea and Neil travelled extensively together. They made several trips to South America, Europe and China. In her younger years, Bea had been, by nature, rather timid about travel and things unfamiliar. But as she grew older, she grew to relish these trips and shared her experiences with delight and joy whenever they returned home. She had a sweet smile and sparkle in her eye that will be sorely missed by those who loved her.

She is survived by three children, Neil J. Christal II, Michael Charles Christal and Kathleen Brown; by nine grandchildren: Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Bethany, Sarah, Gracie, David, Moira and Neil; and brother Al and sister Dorothy.

Family and friends may visit after 10 a.m. Monday, March 22, 2010 and attend the 11 a.m. funeral at Chapel of the Highlands, 194 Millwood Drive at El Camino Real in Millbrae. Burial will follow at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno. The family would like to say that in lieu of flowers, a donation could be made in Bea’s name to: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, second floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 (800) FIGHT CF or online: http://www.cff.org/GetInvolved/ManyWaysToGive/MakeADonation