Our thoughts and prayers for your family. You hold a special place in our hearts since we're related through my sister, Gail Fritzler. May God truly give you comfort. Heaven has a new angel and I know Eileen and my mom are reunited.
Eddy and Family , so sorry to hear of your loss, my sincere sympathy to you and you family.
Pat (Heil) Fankell (Evans,Co)
Ed & Family was sorry to hear of Eileen's passing was just notified of it last night was saddened that I was unable to see her on my visit to Ed just before leaving for Oklahoma will keep you all in my thoughts and prays
Jim & Laura Strong
Cheryl and family I am so sorry for your loss....please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I love you Cheryl and if there is anything you need or if I can help in any way, please don't hesitate to let me know. Take care....
My College's tribute speech was about Eileen Fritzler, who is my foster mother. She has had a lot of influence and impact on my life. This woman has shown me the meaning of the word “love”; She taught me many values that I had not previously known. I chose this topic because Eileen is a very kind person who gives of herself to help others and gave me the love to ease my pain and heal my heart. I want everyone to know that in this world there is still a nice person who does good without the expectation of return or reward. I hope that I can show my audience that sometimes a hobby can be interchangeable between objects and people. Before my performance presentation I just wanted to introduce my friend to know what a great woman who had adopted me and treated me as if I was her own child. I think I did live up to the expectation of letting my friends see how wonderful and sweet Eileen is as I got a lot of feedback from them about how sweet she sounded.
To the most beautiful mother I ever known, Mrs. Eileen Fritzler-
Have you ever met an elephant collector?
You may have known of or heard about elephant hunters. But an elephant collector
is different.
An elephant collector rarely goes into the jungles or the savannahs of Asia
or Africa to search for the big, beautiful animal we call an elephant. The
elephant collector searches for the elephant in a more subtle and clever
type of expedition.
The elephant collector doesn't attempt to shoot or kill the prey, like an
elephant hunter. Rather, the elephant collector seeks to locate the
elephant -- sometimes through a very grueling search -- then befriend it,
provide it a new home, gently care for it, build its self-esteem, bring
people to meet the elephant and teach them to love it. The elephant collector
spends enormous energy treating the creature with delicate and gentle
care, all along providing tremendous love, respect and admiration for her
collection of elephants.
I came to America from Thailand in 1985. In 1986 I became of nursing assistant
for elderly people -- doing in-home care for sick, disabled and rehabilitating
patients.
One of my patients was Jacob Fritzler, the father-in-law of Eileen Fritzler.
At the time I didn't know it, but Eileen is an elephant collector; one of the
very best.
As I cared for Jacob, I came to know Eileen very well. I would never
know the meaning of the word love had I not met this elephant collector who
took me on as one of her elephants.
I have not seen my birth mother since I was seven years old. Of course, this
means that I did not have someone to show me the compassion, care, sacrifice,
nurturing, respect, hope, faith, discipline, charity, guidance and love of
a mother's emotion until an elephant collector found me.
Eileen has five children of her own, but she is always looking for another
elephant to collect. And, to my benefit and fate, she came upon me and took
me in as her sixth child. I remember at my high school graduation, she was there
in place of my birth parent. She was so proud and she told other people that I
was her daughter and how proud of me she was.
Every night she gave me a kiss and said "good night" to me. She valued me
and showered me with all of her love. I learned wonderful values from her -- what
is important, why life is precious, how can I give more of myself to others,
how can I show love to others, to be patient and forgiving always.
Eileen plays the piano and the saxophone. She does quilting and crochet. Her
mashed potatoes are to die for. She is a wonderful, sympathetic listener.
I remember years ago when I started to doubt her unconditional love, I would
] push her away from me. Eileen never gave up and would show me more love
and compassion.
Eileen actually collects two types of elephants. The most important elephants
she collects are the people she meets and loves. I was one of her elephants.
But she also collects porcelain elephants. Her house is filled with them. She loves
them, shows them, displays them and brags about them. She understands
their beauty and their value. But Eileen wants people to see them and appreciate
them. That means that if a grandchild picks up an elephant and drops it and
breaks it, she is sad, but Eileen never demonstrates anger or upset when this
happens.
She loved that broken porcelain, but she also recognizes the most important
elephant is the person who admired and adored that collectible so much to
want to hold it and accidentally drop it.
For Eileen, this means it is time to go search for a new porcelain elephant.
I have learned a lot from Eileen.
I now collect elephants -- the porcelain types. And someday I hope to imitate
Eileen and collect the human elephants who deserve all the love and care and
compassion that a true and devoted elephant collector can provide.
I love you, Tim, Prim, Daniel, and Edward Ethington (Erie, CO)