DeLUCA, CHRISTINE (BOETTCHER) Christine (Boettcher) DeLuca, 90, of Cromwell passed away peacefully on November 17, at Middlesex Hospital following a brief illness. She was born in 1923 in the small German village of Waterloo, Russia. She was predeceased by her husband, Frank F. DeLuca, of Middletown in 1965. They met while he was stationed in Germany at the end of WWII. Having lost contact with her family, she came to the United States in 1947 to marry and shortly thereafter became a U.S. citizen. Following her husband's sudden passing in 1965, Mrs. DeLuca went to work for the Bunces Dept. Store and then Shapiro's Dept. Store, in Middletown, retiring as shoe department manager from the U.S. Shoe Corporation. She is survived by two children, Linda DeLuca of Southington and her long-time partner Stephen Foust and Robert DeLuca and his family of Wethersfield, plus many cousins in Germany and Kazakhstan. She also leaves her oldest and dearest friend, Ella Smedick. Christine will be remembered as a talented seamstress, knitter and voracious reader. Most of all she enjoyed children and animals, especially the "love of her life" for the last 15 years, her pug "Sushi" who recently passed. Calling hours will be at D'Angelo's Funeral home, 22 South Main St., Middletown on Thursday, November 21, 5 - 8 p.m. Private burial will be at St. Sebastion Cemetery in Middletown at the convenience of the family. Those who wish may make donations to "Out to Pasture Farm & Rescue", P.O. Box 310174, Newington, CT, 06131 or Middlesex Hospital, Office of Philanthropy, 28 Crescent Street, Middletown, CT 06457. Mrs. DeLuca's family would especially like to thank the staff of Middlesex Hospital Hospice for their kindness and care of their mother. .