Evelyn Mae Kennedy Frye

Evelyn Mae Kennedy Frye, formerly of Erie, PA died Monday, February 22, 2010 in Topeka, KS. She was 86. Evie was born May 28, 1923 in Albion, PA to John Kennedy and Anna Schiestle Kennedy. Orphaned at age six, Evie lived at St. Joseph's Home for Children in Erie, PA until the age of eighteen. After graduating from the Villa Maria Academy in 1941, she worked at Isaac Bakers & Sons and married George W. Frye in 1942. She later worked as a Kelly Girl and received one of their highest awards for her superb secretarial skills. For twenty years Evie was employed as a medical secretary for psychiatrists Drs. Clapp and Burbridge and later for cardiac surgeons Drs. Sherafat and Saadi. She was known for her marvelous sense of humor and warm, impish smile. While her children were growing up, the cookie jar was always full of homemade mincemeat cookies and pies were baked from the many fruit trees in her backyard. Evie was an excellent seamstress, needlepointer and knitter, often making a sweater for a grandchild in two days. She prided herself on doing The New York Times crossword puzzles in ink and was very proud of her Irish heritage. In 1991, Evie moved to Topeka to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren. Evie is survived by two sons, Robert J. Frye, North Olmsted, OH, Richard G. Frye and wife Jane, Columbia, MD, and two daughters Janet A. Baker and Deborah F. Stern and husband, Peter, Topeka KS. Her four grandchildren include Suzanne Frye, Sterling, VA, Scott Frye and wife Trisha, Potomac Falls, VA, Charles Stern, Topeka, KS and Caroline Stern, Denver, CO. She is also survived by her great-granddaughter, Emma Frye. Evie was preceded in death by her sisters, Rose Kennedy, Mary Alice Tuttle, and Grace Phillips and her husband George, who died in 1985. She earned the title "best mom in the world" and is sorely missed. A memorial service celebrating Evie's life will be held on St. Patrick's Day, Wednesday March 17 at 3:00 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, KS 66610. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Topeka-Shawnee County Library, 1515 SW 10th St., Topeka, KS 66604. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com. Evelyn Mae Frye