Marion R. Fritz

Marion Fritz passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 23 in the Woodlake at Tolland nursing home in Tolland, Connecticut.  Marion was 95 years old. 

Marion was born on June 3, 1927 to parents Edward P. Rowland and Alfaretta (Moore) Rowland.  She grew up on the family Belmont Farm on Christian Street in Oxford, Connecticut along with her brothers Frederick, Edward, and Philip.   Considering herself a farm girl, she enjoyed the wide-open spaces and life in rural Connecticut and was a proud 4H member.

Marion attended Seymour High School and the University of Connecticut School of Home Economics, graduating in 1948.  During her time at UConn, Marion was a member of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity, and enjoyed many friendships as well as the ice cream produced by the UConn Creamery (now known as the UConn Dairy Bar). 

While in college, she corresponded with her future husband John Fritz during his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  When on leave, John would travel from Oxford to Storrs to visit with her.  They married in August of 1948 and remained together for over fifty years until John’s passing in 1998. 

Marion and John raised their five children in Oxford and Southington, Connecticut.  Marion spent much time at home raising the children, but in later years worked as a bookkeeper for G&L Excavating in Naugatuck, Connecticut and for Valley Transportation in Oxford, Connecticut.  She also earned her teaching certificate and real estate license, and enjoyed working with children as well as showing families their prospective new homes. 

She retired with John to Union Hall in Virginia, where they enjoyed some of the most relaxing times of their lives. She and John loved to travel, and she enjoyed an extensive “camper caravan” trip through Alaska as part of their retirement.  Upon John’s passing, Marion relocated back to Connecticut where she lived in Tolland along with her chihuahua Buddy. 

Marion loved to create – sewing beautiful quilts, crocheting prayer shawls, and painting in watercolors.  She loved music, and considered her childhood piano lessons as one of the great joys of her early life.  She loved playing organ music on the Wurlitzer she purchased with her own earnings, and sang as a member of the Tolland Senior Chorus “The Notables.”  She enjoyed nature, and filled her house with statues of beautiful birds.   She loved jigsaw puzzles and would spend hours piecing together beautiful images. 

Marion also loved her time with the church, as a member of the Oxford Congregational Church, the Plantsville Congregational Church, the Methodist Ministry in Union Hall Virginia, and most recently as an active member of the Tolland Congregational Church.

Marion was a gentle lady whose greatest treasure was her family.  She was immensely proud of the family she nurtured and many of her final thoughts were around the great love she had for her family and for her wide circle of friends.

Marion is predeceased by her husband, John A. Fritz and brothers Edward and Philip Rowland.  She is survived by a brother (Fred Rowland), her children (Jean Stewart, Karen Wilmot, Lois (Tom) Kennedy, John (Victoria) Fritz, and Jim (Teri) Fritz), several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and a long list of nieces, nephews and extended family members that will all miss her terribly.   

Marion will be buried in a private ceremony at Grove Cemetery in Naugatuck Connecticut.  A public memorial service is planned for May 6, 2023 at the United Congregational Church of Tolland in Tolland, Connecticut at 11:00 AM.  There will be no separate calling hours.  Family requests a donation be made to the United Congregational Church of Tolland in lieu of flowers.

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