Marie Ella Magdalena Fritsche

Marie Ella Magdalena Schatte Fritsche was born on July 15, 1915 to John and Louise (Umlang) Schatte in Giddings, Texas. She was baptized on July 18, 1915 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Serbin, Texas. She was confirmed on March 23, 1929 also at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Her confirmation verse was John 14:23, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." Marie and William Paul Fritsche were united in marriage on January 5, 1936 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Serbin, Texas. This union was blessed with five children, Doris, Carolyn, Inez Jane, Mary and John. Marie and William began their marriage in Lincoln, Texas. By 1942, they had moved to Houston and become members of Bethany Lutheran Church. Marie taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and became active in the LWML, Bible Study and volunteering in the day school. In 1957, Marie began working for Foley's Department Store in downtown Houston retiring in 1989 at the age of 74. In 2001, she moved to The Woodlands with her daughter, Mary, and became a member of Living Work Lutheran Church. Marie was preceded in death by her husband, William; her daughter, Inez Jane; her parents; four brothers and four sisters. She is survived by her daughter, Doris Bergmann and husband Ronald; daughter, Carolyn Krpec and husband Tony; daughter, Mary Fritsche; son, John Fritsche and wife Barbara; sister, Frances Gersch and husband Herman; six grandchildren, Miriam Norton and husband Stuart, Elizabeth Russell and husband Bob, Martha Bariselle and husband Frank, John Bergmann and wife Melanie, Emily Bieber and husband Matthew, Jonathan Fritsche; and eleven great grandchildren, Michael and Nathan Zapf, Emma Russell, John and Jacob Norton, Max, Louis and Henri Bariselle, Westley and Elijah Bergmann and Abigail Bieber. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Elma Schatte, Thelma Schatte, Ruth Marquardt, Edna Rabe, Maria Fritsche, Faye Fritsche, Eldor and Helen Fritsche, Erwin and Doris Fritsche as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Serving as pallbearers will be John Norton, Jacob Norton, Jonathan Fritsche, Stuart Norton, Monroe Prellop and Bill Withrow. Honorary pallbearers Bob Russsell, Frank Bariselle, Michael Zapf, Nathan Zapf, Max Bariselle, Louis Bariselle, Henri Bariselle, Westley Bergmann and Elijah Bergmann. Memorials may be made to Living Word Lutheran Church Love Fund or to the charity of one's choice.