Christel Margarethe Takacs
Talented artist who valued family above all things
Christel Margarethe (Partenfelder) Takacs passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family on Dec. 21, 2019. Born in Weissenbrunn, Germany to the late Christoph and Katharina (Fischer) Partenfelder, Christel lived in Kirchleus, Germany until she immigrated to the United States in 1963 to study art. Christel resided in Irvington, N.J., and after marrying Louis Takacs in 1965, they settled to South Plainfield, N.J., in 1967 where she has resided ever since, and during which she became a proud citizen of the United States.
Christel was a graduate of the Wilfred Beauty Academy of Cosmetology in Newark, N.J., and had remained a licensed beautician throughout her life. Christel was also the vice president of the family owned business Standard Punch & Die, Inc. based initially out of Chatham, N.J., and later in Middlesex, N.J. But most of all, Christel cherished being a homemaker to her husband of 54 years and her two children.
A very talented artist, Christel entered into many arts and crafts competitions and was proud to take First Place many times. Her proudest moment came when she won the State Grand Award for the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs for an amazing painting of a teddy bear.
Christel was an active member for many years at the Metuchen Edison Women's Club where she spent time volunteering for the organizations supported by the club. Any visit with Christel would reveal a mound of yarn as she was always knitting hats and lap blankets for various hospitals and charities for those in need. She was an avid painter, enjoyed arts and crafts, loved to bake and cook, and absolutely loved spending time in her extensive garden. However, family was above all things, especially later in life with her four cherished grandchildren.
Christel leaves behind her loving and dedicated family: husband Louis Sr., two children, Christine Thompson and her husband, Col. Travis Thompson, of Fort Benning, Ga., and Louis Jr. and his wife, Laura, of Monroe, N.J.; four grandchildren, Ashley Thompson and Ryan, Matthew and Shannon Takacs; two brothers, Willy and Karl Partenfelder of Kirchleus, Germany, and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
Visitation will be held in the McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Ave., South Plainfield, N.J. 07080 on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, from 5 until 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, beginning at 8:45 a.m.
Funeral services will begin at 9:15 a.m. in the funeral home on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, followed by a 10 a.m. funeral service at the First United Methodist Church, 1 East Broad Street, Westfield, N.J. 07090. Mausoleum entombment will follow at Fairview Cemetery also in Westfield. Please visit www.mccriskinfuneralhome.com to send condolences to the Takacs family.
In lieu of flowers, donations made in Christel's name to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center would be appreciated.