Martha Fries

Martha Fries, 97, of Vandling, peacefully passed away surrounded by family on Saturday, February 8th.  She was the widow of Richard D. “Dick” Fries, who died August 17, 2014; Martha always felt privileged to have loved him.

Born in Forest City, daughter of the late Joseph and Anna Galinski Sukiennik and the youngest of 13 children, she was a member of Ascension Parish, Forest City.  At an early age, Martha’s treasured sister, Marian, encouraged her baby sister to sing, becoming a soloist at Sacred Heart Parish, Forest City, and modeled a love of education that Martha carried throughout her life. She graduated from Forest City Regional High School and began working at the Red Cross Pharmacy where she met her beloved husband, Richard when he curiously began buying daily quarts of hand dipped ice cream. She developed an instant crush on him and attempted to strike up a conversation with him nightly. Finally, Richard asked her on a date and on that date, she knew he was “the one.” They married about one year later and soon became parents of three children, James, Craig and June. Throughout her life she worked at the Red Cross pharmacy and as a bookkeeper at R.B. Fries, Inc., Richard’s family automobile dealership. Besides singing, Martha loved reading and baking, especially her famous holiday nut roll.

She is survived by her son: Craig Fries and wife Colleen, Wrighter Lake; daughter: June Dreger and husband Mike, Pennsauken, NJ; and her treasured grandchildren: Meredith and Andrew Thornton, Cherry Hill, NJ; Michael Dreger and Jennifer Ihnacik, Williamstown, NJ; and cherished great granddaughter: Amelia Grace Thornton. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by a son Baby James; and her 12 siblings.

The funeral will be Saturday, February 15th with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Joseph’s Church, Delaware St., Forest City.  Interment, Sacred Heart Cemetery, Forest City.  Friends may call Saturday morning at the church from 9 am until mass time.  Arrangements by the Jones & Brennan Funeral Home, 430 Main Street, Forest City.

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