Christel Chares Losemann

Christel Chares Losemann of Timonium, Maryland died peacefully in her sleep at age 91 on Sunday June 25 after a long, full, and rich life.  Born in Baltimore Maryland on January 23, 1932 and raised in Arbutus, she excelled in music and studied piano at the Peabody Preparatory Conservatory.  Her talents allowed her to perform on a local Baltimore radio station.  She graduated from Catonsville High School and attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA where she majored in French and minored in Math.

Her love of languages took her to Heidelberg Germany in the early 1950's to study German at the Interpreter's Institute at Heidelberg University.  It was in romantic Heidelberg that she met her beloved Heinz (Dr. Heinrich Joseph Losemann).  After she returned to the United States and he completed his medical studies, Heinz came to Baltimore to complete his medical internship and they married in 1955.

Heinz began his medical career in anesthesiology at Bon Secours Hospital in Baltimore until they started their family.  For the first few years, Christel taught French and Algebra at Catonsville High School.  A son Heinrich (Rick) and daughter Erica (Losemann) D'Alesandro completed their family. The family moved to Ten Hills in Baltimore.

In 1970 the country life of Dr. Losemann's youth called them to find a farm on Falls Road in northern Baltimore County. The family spent many years on "Talhof" and Christel not only managed the anesthesiology practice for Heinz with billing and insurance coordination, but still organized and hosted lavish parties to entertain their many friends and family over the years.  Christel was known for her skills in the kitchen, and in addition to the big parties, she and Heinz often hosted friends in smaller gatherings.  Their hospitality also extended across the Atlantic.  Many family members and friends and friends of friends from Germany came to visit over the years.

There were trips to Germany every summer to visit Heinz's family in Billerbeck and their many friends from their years in Heidelberg.  Christel's love of travel and languages also took them to many other countries throughout Europe.  She particularly enjoyed Paris, France for the shopping, ambience, and food.  One summer she attended the world-renowned École de Cuisine La Varenne with Erica to hone her amazing culinary skills.  For a few years in the 1970's Christel and Heinz owned a home on the Costa del Sol in Spain where they enjoyed winter vacations with their family from Germany.

Christel had impeccable taste and enjoyed collecting antiques and exquisite furniture and artwork which she displayed beautifully throughout her residences over the years. Heinz and Christel purchased a condominium in Key Largo in the 1990's where they enjoyed sunny, warm winters with the many friends they made there until Heinz's death in 200­­7.  Prior to Heinz's death, a new passion for cruises took them to Alaska and the Baltic Sea area.  After Heinz's death Christel continued to cruise with her granddaughter Christina Carpenter, daughter-in-law Sandy Losemann and many other friends.  She also continued to travel regularly to Europe with her daughter Erica.

Christel had a sharp intellect and enjoyed classes in theology at the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore.  In her later years, she continued to take classes at the Community College of Baltimore County in Hunt Valley.  She was active in prayer and Bible study groups at St. James Episcopal Church in Monkton, Maryland over the last four years.

Christel is survived by her son Heinrich J. Losemann, Jr. (Rick) and his wife Sandy, daughter Erica D'Alesandro and her husband Nick, granddaughter Christina Carpenter and her husband Dan, granddaughter Skylar D'Alesandro, and great-granddaughters Chares McDermott and Christel Carpenter.  Her hospitality, generosity and love will be missed by her family and many friends.

A funeral service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, 3100 Monkton Road, Monkton, Maryland on Saturday, July 29th at 10 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. James Episcopal Church, 3100 Monkton Road, Monkton, MD  21111.

Arrangements are by the ECKHARDT FUNERAL CHAPEL, P.A., Owings Mills, MD.