Christie M. (Malanga) Wilson

Christine M. Malanga Wilson

Memorial donations may be made to the Divina Malanga Memorial Scholarship Fund at Douglas College, 181 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901.

Private funeral services, which included a cremation in Rosehill Crematory and the burial of her cremains in the family plot in Rosedale Cemetery, both in Linden, New Jersey were previously held for Mrs. Christine M. Malanga Wilson, 102, who died Friday, January 27, 2017 in the St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  A memorial celebration of Mrs. Wilson’s outstanding life is being planned for her loving family and friends.

Mrs. Wilson, the daughter of the late Divina Gianattasio Malanga and the late Thomas F. Malanga, was born In Elizabeth, New Jersey.  She lived in Elizabeth before moving to Linden, New Jersey in 1968, where she resided until settling in Monroe Township, New Jersey in 1981.

Mrs. Wilson was a senior biologist for Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, New Jersey for thirty-four years until her retirement in 1976.

During World War II, Dr. Wilson led a ground breaking team of scientists at Merck & Co., Inc., who were searching for a cure for malaria.  Her research is still used today to help eradicate global suffering in this area.  Dr. Wilson authored or co-authored more than twenty-two papers that were published in scientific journals.  In May of 2011, Mrs. Wilson received an honorary doctorate of Science degree from Kean University in Union, New Jersey.  In June of 2011, Dr. Wilson was honored by Douglas College in New Brunswick, New Jersey where she received the Medal of Honor for her outstanding contributions for her work in protozoal research during her thirty-four years at the Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research in Rahway, New Jersey.

Dr. Wilson was predeceased by her husband, Andrew N. Wilson (2010); her sister, Mary C. Henderson; her two brothers, Thomas F. Malanga Jr. and Elmer Malanga and her sister-in-law, Ann Malanga. 

Dr. Wilson is survived by her step-daughter, Carolyn Wilson; her sister, Evelyn Zamula; her brothers-in-law, Rudy Zamula and Robert M. Henderson; her sister-in-law, Juanita Malanga Vitale; her seven nephews, Thomas F. Malanga and his wife, Kathleen, William Zamula and his wife, Mary Ann, David Zamula and his wife, Annette, Martin Zamula, James Henderson, Douglas Henderson and his wife, Lori, Stuart Henderson and his wife, Margo Montooth Henderson; her five nieces, Debra Reese and her husband, Douglas, Patricia Malanga, Susan Sirmans, Michele Lamorte, Annelise Zamula & her husband, David Norfleet and her 18 great nephews & nieces.

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