SALEM- Diane M. (Thompson) Christiansen, 60, of Salem, wife of John E. Christiansen, died Saturday, January 4, 2003, in Mass General Hospital, Boston, following a short illness.
Born in Waltham, she was the daughter of the late Dorothy (MacClary) Rando, and step daughter of the late John S. Rando, Sr., formerly of Gloucester.
A graduate of Waltham High School in 1960, she received her B.S. degree in secondary education from Boston University in 1964. In 2000, she received her M.Ed from Cambridge College.
Mrs Christiansen was a teacher at the Briscoe Middle School in Beverly for the past 5 years, teaching French and German. Prior to teaching in Beverly, she taught French and English for 10 years at the Parkway Christian Academy in Revere. She was previously employed in commercial sales by CVS, Acme Visible Records, Charette and Fotobeam, all in the greater Boston area.
A resident of Salem for the past 27 years, she was a longtime member of St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Malden and the Massachusetts Federation of Teachers.
Besides her husband, with whom she shared 37 years of marriage, she is survived by two daughters, Charlena and her husband Donald P. Benjamin of Ipswich, Allison Christiansen of Salem, two grandchildren, Catherine D. Benjamin and Rachel J. Benjamin of Ipswich, three brothers and two sisters-in-law, John S. Rando Jr. Of Gloucester, Ronald G. And Laurie Thompson of Concord, Stephen M and Diana Thompson of Framingham, one sister, Janice M. Matthiesen of Los Angeles, CA and several nieces and nephews.
Her funeral service will be Thursday, January 9, 2003 at 10 am at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Malden. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Wednesday, 4 to 7 pm at the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. Burial is in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the American Lung Association, 1 Abbey Lane, Middleboro, MA 02346-3230. For guestbook and directions, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.