Mary Fritsch, 96, of New Alsace, Indiana, passed Monday. She leaves her loving family: Nick (Monica)Fritsch of New Alsace, Luci (Rudy)Schenk of Brighton, CO, Diane (Willie)Berdeguez of Owings, MD, Linda Mae (John) Waechter of Batesville, Gracie (George) Ritzi of St. Peters, Marcy (the late Jerry) Erhart of Sunman. There are 22 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband Stanley H. Fritsch, her daughter Julia Conboy, her parents Louis and Gertrude Barnhorst, and Robert (Red) Barnhorst, Herman Barnhorst, Elmer Barnhorst, Viola Fisher, and Freda O’Brien.
Mary grew up on a farm in the rolling hills near St. Mary’s of the Rock church here in southeastern Indiana. She helped with the farm work including shocking wheat and corn and loading hay using horses in those days before modern farm equipment was available.
Mary served our country as a member of the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) during WWII. She married Stanley in 1944 and together they raised 7 children on the Fritsch family farm and their farm on Yorkridge road. Mary continued with farms chores as well as planting a huge garden and canning the produce..many quarts of vegetables and fruit and jelly to feed a family of 9. Also a fond memory is her baking in particular the homemade bread up to 8 loaves twice a week. Mary was an excellent seamstress sewing most of the clothes for 6 girls. She was truly giving of herself for others.
In later years she made beautiful handmade cross stitch quilts and donated one or two to each annual church festival for many years. The last one she worked was at the age of 93!
Visitation is Thursday, August 10 from 5:00-7:30 with rosary at 5:00 at Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial is Friday, August 11 at 10:00 at St. Paul Catholic Church, All Saints Parish.
Memorials: Masses, St. Paul (All Saints Parish) Cemetery Fund