Christa Juliana Rábago (nee Übelhör)

Christa Juliana Rábago (nee Übelhör), age 85, passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, completing a life full of love and nurturing and courage in the face of any and all challenges. She was a loving wife and source of strength for 66 years to her husband, Rogerio I. Rábago, who preceded her in death. Christa is preceded in death by her parents and several other family members who lived in Germany. With Rogerio, they brought into this world and raised six children—Ronald, Karl, Paul, Eric, Richard, and Rebecca. She was loving grandmother—Oma—to Timothy, Troy, Cathy, Kara, David, Steven, James, Thomas, and Kyle; and great-grandmother to Avery, Jonathan, and Judah. Christa was also an informal adoptive Mom to Daniel and Terri, and to many of her children’s close friends who just needed a little extra love in times of need.

Chris, as she was known to so many was known for her love of her birthplace, Germany, and of music, art, architecture, travel, and history. She was the master of cooking a big family meal; every holiday dinner was a feast of great food and good cheer. Christa also enjoyed decorating her table based on the holiday and her arrangements were always beautiful. There were always fresh baked goods on her counter, and no Christmas season was complete without Christa’s wide assortment of cookies—especially the Lebkuchen. Mom also embraced her husband’s Mexican American heritage and cooked tacos and Spanish rice better than any taquería could make. The kitchen and her sewing room were her domain and only the lucky few were allowed entrance to get a peek at her secrets. While the meals and decorations were always amazing, the centerpiece of these events was her love for family and friends.

Christa always had a charitable and civic activity underway, serving as an election worker, working at the food pantry, or providing leadership and information for her neighborhood. She also supported her husband’s Knights of Columbus Council by being a member in the Ladies Auxiliary wherein she served in many leadership roles, including that of President. One of her proudest accomplishments was the over 20 years she volunteered for the Seton Auxiliary. During that time, she held many roles, including that of President (2006-2007) and received numerous awards and commendations for her work.

Christa was born in Kassel, Germany and grew up in Regensburg, Germany. She firsthand witnessed the horror, destruction, and privation of a world war and channeled that experience into becoming a fantastic Mom, wife, a loving caregiver, and an optimist. Christa grew great things from small beginnings; she made an Air Force, and later state employee salary into more than enough for her large family. She sewed her own clothes for many years, ran a small sewing business in the 80’s and then turned her skills to craftwork, making blankets and décor for donation to those in need. Christa had a green thumb—her home and gardens were always thriving and blooming and beautiful. Her home was always full of music, and she was a gifted piano player. Christa would always tell her children that playing the piano was her stress release, and her garden was her sanctuary.

She was coach, advisor, nurturer, PTA member, Cub Scout Den Mother, Girl Scout Troop Leader and tireless chauffeur for all her children. Christa always put her family first and often made significant sacrifices to make her children’s lives better. She was at every school event, every game, every recital. Christa was always active and over the years joined tennis clubs, bowling leagues, aerobics and even an adult kickball team. She embodied love and caring. And she had a heart as big as the world.

Christa’s husband Rogerio called her the smartest women he ever knew. She read widely and voraciously, completed the crossword puzzle, in pen, every day, and loved puzzles in general. She stayed fluent in German and English all her life and knew more Spanish than she ever let on to her husband Rogerio. Widely traveled, she and her husband Rogerio lived in Germany, where they met, and in France, Alabama, California, Colorado, Australia, and several places in Texas, before settling in Austin, where they lived for the past nearly fifty years. They became members of St. Louis Catholic Church in 1976, where Christa sang with the choir. Their annual performance at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve was a spiritual highlight of the year. She was a member of the German Texas Heritage Society and was an Emeritus member of the Austin Saengerrunde Damenchor singing Alto. She travelled numerous times to Europe and visited numerous states throughout the years. Christa supported many charitable organizations, especially numerous animal rescue organizations, children’s charities, and Catholic charities, and was a member of several bridge clubs.

Christa had big laugh and warm smile that drew you in; she was also a woman who knew where she stood and wasn’t afraid to tell you if she agreed, or disagreed, with you. She was a mentor and role model—she made strong women of her daughters and granddaughters, and confident and respectful men of her sons and grandsons. She believed it important to raise strong independent children. Because of her efforts, Christa’s kids know how to cook, to sew, to appreciate music and beauty everywhere, and to greet each day with purpose, resolve, and optimism. Christa was resilient, full of grit and able to find joy in even the smallest of things.

The kindness and support of others in her final passage was a gift of love. These included family, friends, and the various awesome members of her Ascension Seton caregiver team.

Christa is survived by her six children, Ronald and his wife Patricia; Karl and his wife Pamela; Paul and his wife Carol; Eric and his wife Tammy; Richard and his wife Anne-Marie; and Rebecca and her husband Ron. She had 9 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and numerous cousins and friends who surely will miss her.

A visitation will be held for Christa on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752. The rosary service portion of the visitation will take place between 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 1:30 p.m., St. Louis King of France Catholic Church, 7601 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78757. A brief reception will take place afterwards at the hall at the church. Interment will take place on November 18, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209. Christa will rest alongside her husband, Rogerio.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Christa’s honor to the Austin Humane Society @ https://austinhumanesociety.org/ or Texas Humane Heroes @ https://humaneheroes.org/donate/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com for the Rabago family.