Bettie Jane (Elizabeth) Fritz died peacefully on Feb. 28. She was 84 years old.
Born June 29, 1922, in Chicago she was the third child of Louis and Rose L. Weil. Her widowed mother and family moved to Seattle when she was six years old. She graduated from St. Anne's Catholic School and Holy Names Academy, and attended Seattle University.
On Aug. 12, 1944, she married Robert Gordon Fritz. The couple had four sons and four daughters, all of whom attended St. Anne's School. The years the family spent living on Queen Anne Hill were some of the happiest of their lives. Mrs. Fritz was a member of St. Anne's Church from 1955 until 1974, when she moved to Ballard.
Mrs. Fritz, or Elizabeth as she liked to be called in recent years, worked for the Boeing Company, the Westin Hotel, Swedish Hospital, Corry Manufacturing and the federal government, retiring in 1989.
She volunteered at the voting polls in the Greenwood area for many years. For several years she was a church greeter at her parish, St. John the Evangelist in Seattle, where she was a member from 1974 to 2002.
Her most recent parish was St. Anthony's in Renton, where she worshipped for the past five years.
Mrs. Fritz's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her life, and she gave her time and love generously. She loved family gatherings, parties and visitors. Her faith in the Lord was lifelong, and very evident to all she met. A friend to all, she was very social until stricken with Alzheimer's several years ago.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband Bob, in April 1963, and never remarried. She was also preceded in death by her brother Charles Weil, her sister Rosemary O'Hearn, infant granddaughter Melissa Hirth in 1987, and daughter Carolyn (Fritz) Hirth in October 2006.
Mrs. Fritz is survived by her sons Roger Fritz of Poulsbo; Greg (Karla) Fritz of Seattle; Charles (Theresa) Fritz of Kent; Bob (Brenda) Fritz of Kent; and by her daughters Rose (Tim) Blumenstein of Auburn; Sue (Frank) Kokorowski of Seattle; and Therese (Terry) McDonough of Seattle.
She is survived by 16 grandchildren: John (Deanna) Blumenstein; Tom (Jenny) Blumenstein; Christie (Shawn) Welsh; Mike (Leslie) Blumenstein; Jim Fritz; Dave (Lisa) Fritz; Chris (Valerie) Fritz; Amy (Kevin) Lee; Chuckie Fritz; Aaron (Crystalyn) Kokorowski; Greg Kokorowski; Matt Kokorowski; Bob McDonough; Ally McDonough; Ben Hirth; and Breanna Hirth.
Mrs. Fritz also has 13 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A rosary was held March 9 at St. John's Church. A celebration of Elizabeth Fritz's life was held March 10 at St. John's Catholic Church in Seattle.
Remembrances may be made to Providence Hospice of Seattle, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Alzheimer's Association, the Cancer Society or any organization of the donor's choice.
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