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Kathleen Fry Obituary
COLUMBIA CITY - Kathleen (Kathy) Jean Fry of rural Columbia City, Indiana, died peacefully in the company of family at 5:05 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at Lutheran Life Villages at Inverness, Fort Wayne, where she was a resident since May 2022.
She was born May 10, 1942, in Payne, Ohio, daughter of the late Bernard and Catherine (Linder) Gonya. She spent her formative years in Payne with many cousins and friends nearby. Her family relocated to Warsaw, Indiana, and she graduated from Warsaw High School in 1960.
In 1961, she married Phil A. Fry and lovingly cared for the home they created together in Columbia City for 62 years.
Kathy and Phil have three children who survive her, Linda (Tom) Alt of Fort Wayne, Greg Fry and Gwen Fisher, both of whom reside in Columbia City.
She was a devoted member of St. Paul Catholic Church, Columbia City.
She loved to prepare meals for her family and was an excellent baker. She had vegetable gardens, canning and freezing the bounty each year. She turned her love of cooking into a career, making meals for school children, first at Etna-Troy School, and eventually Mary Raber School.
She loved taking care of her yard and flowers and spending time outdoors on the swing under the maple tree with Phil. She loved babies and taking care of her grandchildren. Chelsie (Jared) Kirtlan, Brea (Chris) Shull, Albert Fry and Lena Alt brought her much joy. She was also blessed with one great-grandchild, Andrew Kirtlan.
She is survived by her husband, Phil; siblings, Michael (Louise) Gonya, Maryanne (Robert) Clark, Carol (Stan) Schwartz and Nancy (Tom) Barker; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by brothers, William, Robert and John Gonya.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 315 South Line St., Columbia City.
Burial is at South Park Annex Cemetery.
Visitation is from 9 a.m., until the service time Thursday at the church.
Memorials in Kathleen's honor may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church.
Condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Kathleen Fry
Sponsored by Smith & Sons Funeral Home - Columbia City.
1 Entry
Kathy Thornson
October 4, 2023
Our heartfelt sympathy to all the Fry family. I had the privilege of meeting Kathy over the past year while visiting my mother, Phyllis, at Lutheran Life Villages/ The Glades. Kathy was a very kind, sweet lady. Kathy would often ask me if I was there to take her home, with a little twinkle in her eye. May you find peace in knowing she is safely home now. Kathy Thornson
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Smith & Sons Funeral Home - Columbia City207 N Main St, Columbia City, IN 46725
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