Charline Ollier Einstein

Charline Ollier Einstein, age 97, of Mountainside, New Jersey passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on January 14, 2022. Cherished mother, wife, daughter, and dear friend, Charline is  survived by her 4 children, Rita Davis (Rick), Gilles Einstein (Patty), Jean-Philippe Einstein (Patricia), and Jessica Kaufman (Mark), ten grandchildren, Alissa, Danielle T, Danielle K, Alex, Julie, Emily, Stephanie, Alexandra, Janelle, and Olivia, and 14 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her father Charles Ollier, and her mother Marguerite Loubaresse, and by her husband Ernst Stephan Einstein. 

She was born on March 14, 1924 in Les Pradeaux, a small rural village in France. As a young woman she worked as a stenographer in the nearby city of Issoire.  It was at this time that she met her dear husband, Ernst Einstein, who was hiding from the Nazis using the name André Ravel. Showing courage and determination, Charline took considerable risks by acting as a liaison with Ernst’s parents who were hiding during the Nazi occupation in an attic near Clermont Ferrand.  She and Ernst were married in 1946.

At a later date Charline, Ernst, and their two children immigrated to the United States, sailing on the SS Liberté.  Charline endured culture shock by supporting her husband as he worked long hours starting a successful retail business (Einstein-Moomjy) with his identical twin brother Theodore.  She learned to speak English (albeit with a strong but attractive French accent), raised two more children, and helped her family assimilate while still keeping true to her French origins.  After settling in Mountainside, Charline enjoyed playing tennis, taking long walks in the Watchung Reservation, and taking occasional cross country ski ventures in the park. Charline also volunteered her time at the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation. An avid knitter, talented gardener, and expert cook, everything she touched seemed to transform, blossom, and benefit from her deft handiwork.   She adored babies, and very little brought her more joy than cooing over her newest grandchild or great grandchild.  Charline loved to travel, especially to her beloved France, but she also much enjoyed visiting vibrant tropical islands and the Carolina beaches, where she treated her family to an annual summer vacation at the beach. Charline enjoyed strong friendships throughout her life and deeply valued her connections with neighbors and many other friends across the globe.

Her children and grandchildren fondly remember her warm and gentle touch, her gourmet meals, her insights about life and people, and her perfect sense of style and fashion. She was charming, and she excelled at everything she did.    

The loss of this matriarch is keenly felt.  The family acknowledges all the care and attention that she received from the many aids, hospice, family and her primary caretakers.  

A family celebration commemorating her life will take place on March 12 in Mountainside.

In Lieu of flowers donations may be made in Charline’s memory to the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation:    150 New Providence Rd., Mountainside NJ 07092 or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research https://www.michaeljfox.org/ . To offer online condolences or share memories with Charline’s family please visit:  https://www.higginsandbonner.com

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