Obituary: Mary Fritz, 78; Longtime State Representative

From Wallingford Funeral Home

State Representative Mary (Sherry) Fritz, 78, of Yalesville, loving wife of 52 years to William W. Fritz, passed away Saturday July 9, 2016, at her home with her family by her side.

She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on May 8, 1938, a daughter of the late Patrick and Kathleen (Kerns) Sherry.

Mary attended Emanuel College, Boston College, Trinity College, and Fairfield University. She taught in the Wallingford Public Schools from 1959-1964. She was the founder of Create & Play Nursery School and taught reading in Meriden Parochial Schools. She was manager of Fritz's Custom Furniture, was president of the PTA Yalesville School, and was Chairwoman of the Wallingford Board of Education.

Mary was the State Representative of the 90th District for 32 years, was Deputy Speaker of the House for 8 years and was an advocate for her constituents. She was an avid quilter and Annalee collector, and loved to vacation on Lake Winnipesaukee for 40 years. Most of all, she was a pillar of the community who touched many lives and gave her heart and soul to everything she championed.

In addition to her husband she is survived by six children, William W. Fritz Jr. (Sondra), Kathleen Romania (Peter McConnell), Michael Fritz, Heather McDonnell (Patrick), Matthew Fritz (Deidre), and David Fritz (Ariana); 14 grandchildren, Will, AJ, and Brady Fritz, Kaitlyn and Anthony Romania, Jack, Mae, and Cole McDonnell, Aidan, Layne, and Ainsley Fritz, and David, Olivia, and Michael Fritz.

Her family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., Wallingford CT 06492 on Wednesday July 13, 2106, from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. directly at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 382 Hope Hill Road, Yalesville. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery in Wallingford. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be sent to the Mary G. Fritz Memorial Scholarship Fund, C/O The Wallingford Funeral Home.

To leave online condolences, visit the Wallingford Funeral Home here.