Stuart Francis Frizzell

Stuart Frizzell lived a life of purpose, finding joy in the things that mattered most. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, he was a man of quiet strength and steadfast principles. Stuart was also a community servant who cared deeply about his neighbors, and a man who treasured the wonders of nature.

A resident of Bedford, New Hampshire, Stuart died peacefully, at home, on July 27, 2025, after a period of hospice care surrounded by those he cherished. He will forever be remembered for the everyday acts of love and service that defined him.

Born on Sept. 27, 1940, in Brattleboro, Vermont, to Paul Morris Frizzell and Stephanie Juscen Frizzell, Stuart was the oldest of four siblings. His early life centered around his vibrant neighborhood, large Polish-Catholic family (with dozens of cousins as playmates), and the St. Michael's Catholic Church community. From a very young age, Stuart was disciplined and resourceful, developing a sense of responsibility while his father was away serving in the U.S. Navy. As he grew older, he regularly woke up before dawn to complete his paper route before school, earning income that contributed to household expenses.

While responsibility came early, Stuart developed a love for the outdoors by exploring with his siblings during childhood summer excursions in Vermont, including special trips to his Uncle Will's farm in Cavendish, where he learned about farming and agriculture. Those experiences inspired a lifelong love of gardening, growing his own food, building stone walls, and working the land. They also began to shape the steady, disciplined way he would live his life.

As a teenager, Stuart became a local football star at Brattleboro High School. He competed with the Vermont team that played in the 1958 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl and went on to attend Colgate University, where he played football on scholarship while proudly earning a college education.

Stuart began his career in retail business with Sears Roebuck in Boston. It was in the city that he met his future wife, Carol Webster, on a double date with mutual friends. Stuart was drawn to Carol right away - and to her Chevy II Nova convertible. The couple married on Sept. 5, 1964, launching a 60-year partnership rooted in mutual respect, faith, and shared goals. Stuart and Carol were best friends, whose strong foundation helped them raise a family, run a successful company, and live a life that set an example for their children and grandchildren.

A proud "girl dad" to Jennifer, Jill, and Joy, Stuart encouraged his daughters' ambitions with quiet conviction. He never pushed but always guided, providing a stable, reliant presence. He listened without judgment, advised with wisdom, and celebrated even the smallest victories.

As his children grew up, Stuart's work took the family to several communities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as he built his retail career in the Mid-Atlantic region. But he was a New Englander at heart and always looked for opportunities to resettle closer to his roots. In 1986, the Frizzell family relocated to Bedford, where Stuart and Carol started Prestige Printing. They operated the company together for decades, building a strong network of friends and loyal customers across New Hampshire.

In every home Stuart and Carol owned, there always had to be space in the yard for his abundant garden. To Stuart, the garden was his sanctuary, a reflection of his patience, care, and quiet joy. Among the blueberries and flowers, he found not just peace, but purpose. It was where he could be alone with his thoughts and where he practiced devotion in the form of daily tending.

In retirement, Stuart embraced a life of traveling with Carol. They cherished time together and were ever eager to plan their next adventure. They returned for 14 winters to Hawaii, where they especially loved Maui and Kauai, and also found solace in Palm Beach Shores, Florida. They saw the world together on cruises, where they met new friends and explored Europe and the Caribbean. They also created lifelong memories with their children and grandchildren during annual family vacations in Captiva, Florida.

Stuart maintained an enduring sense of duty to his community. He was a devoted volunteer with the Rotary Club of Bedford and took the lead in hosting the annual senior citizens Christmas luncheon. He and Carol made many lasting friendships with fellow Rotarians and their spouses routinely combining service and social time. Stuart also loved serving as a bell ringer for The Salvation Army to raise money during the holiday season and often recruited his grandsons to join him.

He served without seeking credit, loved without condition, and gave generously of himself. Whether organizing events, planting tomatoes, or placing the traditional Polish Oplatki wafers on the table on Christmas Eve, his gestures reminded everyone that lasting impact is found in small, consistent acts of love.

A calm and selfless peacemaker, Stuart rarely raised his voice and always sought harmony over conflict, leading through quiet action. There was a gentleness in his presence that made others feel at ease. He cherished life's simplest pleasures: a good scoop of vanilla ice cream, a crossword puzzle completed in pen, the satisfaction of yardwork well done. From family picnics to vacations, he always carried his cribbage board with him, eager to share a game.

The food grown in Stuart's garden was often incorporated into Carol's wonderful cooking, which he adored and appreciated. They sat together at the table every night to share dinner and a prayer. He knew how lucky he was to share life with someone whose love was always evident.

Stuart's legacy lives in the people he shaped and the values he embodied. His support for his six grandchildren emulated the encouragement he provided his daughters, offering not only love but experiences that shaped them, from summer camps to study abroad programs that fostered self-discovery. He gave not to indulge, but to invest in their growth, teaching through example what it means to live with intention and heart. Through his devotion to kindness, humility, faith, loyalty, and grace, he taught those around him what truly matters.

In addition to Carol, Stuart is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Frizzell of Concord, New Hampshire, Jill Martin (Carlos) of Miami, Florida, and Joy Lagrutta (Tom) of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; his sisters, Inder Khalsa and Martha Doyle (Raymond) of Brattleboro, Vermont; his sister-in-law, Carole Frizzell of North Hampton, New Hampshire; his grandchildren, Ethan and Evan Crandlemire, Ana and Sofia Martin, and Zachary and Alexander Lagrutta; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Thomas P. Frizzell; and his son-in-law, Donald Crandlemire.

A funeral Mass will be held 11am on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Bedford, NH immediately followed by a luncheon to celebrate Stuart's life and legacy at the Bedford Village Inn at 12pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Salvation Army of Manchester, 121 Cedar Street, Manchester, NH 03101 would be appreciated.