Joan Fries Obituary

Name: Visitation for Joan Fries
Start: 2019-08-13T13:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-08-13T14:00:00.000Z
Location: Dennis & D'Arcy Abriola & Kelemen Funeral Homes - Stratford

Joan Irene Fries
Joan Irene (MacDonald) Fries, age 82, beloved wife of the late Walter K. Fries, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at Lord Chamberlain Health Care. Born in Bridgeport, she was the daughter of the late James R. MacDonald, Sr., Ethel (Larson) Day and Harold B. Day.
Joan was a 1956 graduate of Stratford High School and attended Paier College of Art. During the first two years of marriage, Joan and Walt lived in Sitka, Alaska, where she worked as a medical secretary. After returning to Connecticut, together they ran Fries Bros. Tree Service for over 40 years and a sewing business, Joan Originals, for 15 years. Joan was very artistic and passionate about home renovations and interior design, long before it was made fashionable on HGTV. With Walt's help, they transformed many area houses into beautiful homes.
Joan is survived by her two children, Debbie L. Fries (Whitney Donnelly) of Loudon, NH, and Roger K. Fries (Heide) of Huntington, CT; her sisters, Joyce Baran (Al) of Stratford, CT, Jacquie MacDonald of Shelton, CT, and Jamie Elliott (Dan) of Alabama; nieces and nephews - Shari Fries Rivas (Lee), Margaux Baran Caniato, Kenneth Fries (Laura), Rob Fries (Nicole), Joyann Fries Koch (Tim), Daniel and Kate Elliott; several great-nieces and great-nephews; as well as a very dear friend, Sharon Calabro. She was predeceased by her brothers, Harold E. Day and James R. MacDonald, Jr., and a sister, Jeannette MacDonald.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the Dennis & D'Arcy - Abriola & Kelemen Funeral Home, 2611 Main St., Stratford. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday following the visitation at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Joseph Piccirillo officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Grove of Easton Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff of Benchmark Senior Living at Split Rock and Lord Chamberlain Health Care for the care and compassion they provided to Joan. For those that desire, donations may be made in Joan's memory to CT Hospice. To offer the family online condolences, please visit www.dennisanddarcy.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Connecticut Post on Aug. 9, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Joan Fries

Sponsored by Dennis & D'Arcy Abriola & Kelemen Funeral Homes - Stratford Abriola & Kelemen Funeral Home.

8 Entries

Carolyn Knapp

September 17, 2019

May you R.I.P. & may God bring comfort to your family who adored their Mom so much. You will be truly missed.

Christine (Thetford) Durst

August 30, 2019

Joan was always so sweet and kind and generous! She had a lovely way of interacting with people, and will be greatly missed. Prayers for peace and comfort for all of her friends and family.

Ellen Nichols

August 25, 2019

I am so sorry to hear that Ms. Joan passed away. We miss her at Benchmark and she was such a joy to have around. My condolences to the family. May God comfort the family at this time.

Ettore Rossetti

August 13, 2019

Dear Roger and family, Please accept our deepest condolences for your recent loss. You and Heide are the best neighbors one could ask for. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. Soumia sends her sympathies from Morocco.

With sympathy,
The Rossetti Family

Sharon Calabro

August 13, 2019

My Dearest Joan
When we met it was fate. We were like sisters. We started having lunch with our mothers together once a month and then it blossomed into our long standing and continuous friendship. We did everything together. Shopping, dancing at two senior centers, walking all around the condos and craft fairs ( you made them and I sold them). All the fantastic Holidays, Birthdays, and picnics and dont forget the trips to the casinos were so much fun. I will never forget your carrot cakes and seven layer cookies. They were the best. I miss you terribly. My heart hurts. Until we meet again Love Sharon

Mary Lou and Norman Thetford

August 12, 2019

Joan made the space around her beautiful by her presence and her home decoration. She was a gracious hostess, a talented cook, an able craftswoman and business woman, a cat lover, a dancer, and an artist. Visiting her was a treat. Each home was another work of art! I recall especially Deb's 16th birthday party when Joan and her mother served a group of about forty, possibly more. There were also family gatherings such as cook-outs and graduation parties. Walter, my cousin, and Joan worked together well and made everyone feel comfortable and special. My husband and I will miss her very much but will never forget who she was, what she did, and how well she did it. We cherish the memories.

Mary Lou (Williams) Thetford and Norman Thetford

Ruth Olson

August 10, 2019

I am so sad to hear my oldest friend has died. We knew each other for 75 years, and she was like family to me. I spent two very happy weeks every summer with the Days after they moved to Stratford from East Haven. When we were teens, Ethel used to take us to the roller skating rink, where she chaperoned us closely. Even though Joan was almost three years older than I, we were good friends. Although my mother was very strict, Ethel was more protective. She was afraid to let Joan play with me when we were little because I was more adventurous, doing things like riding my tricycle down the hill with my hands instead of my feet on the pedals. Joan was more the princess, in her beautiful dance costumes (I was quite jealous). I was allowed to wear lipstick when Joan finally was. Vern and I have many happy memories of times we spent with Joan and Walt. Joan was in my wedding, although I was not in hers--I was nine months pregnant. My sister Ellie was her flower girl.

As happens too often, we sometimes let time go by without being in touch, but then we'd be back together more frequently. A really great time was in Florida, with Joan and Walt, Ethel and Madeline. They visited Vern and me when we were living on the east coast, and I then drove over to Treasure Island to stay with them at their time share for few days. There are pictures of Walt and his "harem." Joan encouraged me, when I lived in Florida, to start up a shirt business like hers. I did, but never achieved to success she did. Early on, we did a few shows together, but then I started a full-time job and had no time for shirts. I loved that she had Walt to help her with the sewing.

Over the years, we shared both happy and sad moments. We laughed a lot. I have missed not being able to call her over the last year or so. I loved Joan, and I have nothing but good memories of her.

Rest in peace, my dear friend. The world is a sadder place without you.

Elaine Tatem

August 8, 2019

Joan was a dear friend who will be missed terribly. I will miss our yearly traditions of our chocolate martinis and lobster rolls at Knapps Landing as well as our yearly massages and lunches at The Red Barn! I will always treasure the times helping you and Walt at the sweatshirt shows. We had so many laughs and good times together. Fond memories ! I will miss you❤

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