Woodstock, Vermont

Christa A Blanchard passed away at The Woodstock Terrace on February 19, 2024, with family at her side, she was 85.

Christa was born in Stettin, Germany on March 26, 1938 to Erwin Lehman and Kaehte Lehman (Giese). She was formally educated in Germany but took photography plus many other courses beyond that. Christa immigrated to New York City in 1956 and moved to her beloved, lifelong Town of Woodstock, Vermont in the summer of 1961.

She was married to Clyde W Blanchard (Bud) in 1968, Christa is survived by her three children, Christa Davis, Gregory Blanchard and his wife Tracy Blanchard, Sonja Blanchard and her husband Eric Weglarz, 5 grandchildren, Melissa Davis, Wesley Davis, Jakob Blanchard, Sophia Blanchard and Lucia Blanchard and 3 great grandchildren Alex Ibey, Liam Davis and Amaya Cook. Christa was predeceased by her parents, her step mother Erna Lehman, brother Norbert Lehman, step brother Siegfried Stock and her loving husband Bud.

Christa led a very full accomplished life; she began as a clothing model and by working for the AKC in NYC. Once she moved to Woodstock, she began employment for McHughes Clothing Store, calling on the family trade as Tailors and then opening her own sewing business in her Barberry Hill home. It was most amazing to watch her as she started with a measuring tape and piece of brown paper, create a pattern that fit you perfectly, draw it on fabric with chalk and sew exactly what you hoped for or even better. Over the years Christa plied her craft for many living in or visiting the area, including known names such as Charles Bronson, Indira Ghandi and Rockefellers but her proudest moments were working with 4-H children on their projects. She helped so many over the years learn to sew and compete for awards on their creations. Christa also became known as the woman to go to if you wanted specialized western riding clothes for horse shows, an endeavor she began when Sonja started competing around the Country. Many brides went to the alter wearing one of Christa's incredible dresses, always exquisite and tailored just for them. Her lifelong love affair with a camera, began when she was quite young, she documented many of the activities in Woodstock over the decades. She was rarely seen without her camera and has left a plethora of stunning photos from all her wanderings, family and friends. Christa and Bud had a wanderlust, traveling every chance they had and usually with a VW bus full of children. It was common for the family to be loaded up in the wee hours of the morning, to head off to parts unknown and some new adventure. Last but far from least was Christa's commitment to the Glad Rags sale. She didn't miss working on a single one of their semiannual sales, for over 50 years, many of them as President. Christa was so proud of the money they made for the Vermont Visiting Nurses, the Ottauquechee Health Foundation, Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society and others.

We will be holding a Celebration of Life, at the Woodstock Senior Center on March 17, 2024, from 1:00-4:00.

There will be a graveside service at The Veterans Cemetery in Randolph Vermont, on May 6, 2024 at 1:00. Where she will be reunited with her husband Bud.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you please make donations to the Vermont 4-H Program or the Ottauquechee Health Foundation in Woodstock, that helped fund her care for the past few years.