Marian Holden (Bartlett) Friese
Marian Friese passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children, on April 15, 2022.
Marian Friese was blessed with a very long and full life. Born to James and Kathleen (Abbott) Bartlett on April 19, 1935, she spent her childhood in Toronto and northern Ontario. Her love of life and adventure grew from her first 20 summers spent at the cottage built by her grandfather on Georgian Bay. There she enjoyed rowing, canoeing, sailing, swimming, delivering mail by rowboat, picnicking on the islands, and spending the summer with three generations of family and friends. Family was her top priority all her life.
After high school Marian was educated at Ryerson Institute of Technology (Early Childhood Education) and much later at Harcum College (Occupational Therapy).
She worked at the Devereaux Camp and Schools from 1954 until 1957 when she was married to Paul Friese just 10 months after a blind date. She raised four children as the family was moved by Paul’s company from Philadelphia to Lexington, VA, to Arlington, TX, to Wheaton, IL, and finally to King of Prussia, PA. Throughout this time, Marian was an active community volunteer, taught preschool for several years, actively supported her children’s schools and activities (especially music), worked as an occupational therapist in later years, served as a hospice volunteer, and was a very active member of the Presbyterian Church. She always had beautiful gardens and arrays of indoor plants.
After retirement, Marian and her husband moved in 2008 to Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook, PA. Marian found many ways to use her teaching and occupational therapy skills at Tel Hai. She served on many committees, including Resident Council, helped start several social groups to support widows, and was especially gratified to volunteer at Child Day Care and Adult Care.
Marian is remembered by her family as a mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, and auntie who never forgot a birthday and was always interested in their lives. Her daily emails to her children for more than two decades were a source of love and support, good advice, and reminders to always be grateful for blessings large and small. She was a strong woman.
Marian was preceded in death by her beloved husband Paul in 2009, her parents, and brother Bill. She is survived by daughter Janet (Greg Weist) Clark of Bozeman, MT; twin sons Tom (Peg) Friese and Bill Friese, both of West Chester; and daughter Carol (Bob) McGlade of Schwenksville; six very special grandchildren - Mary Ellen McGlade, Kelly McGlade, Maddie Wiechec, Doug Friese, Emma Genco, and Andrew Petroff; four great-grandchildren - Milo and Hazel Petroff, and Oliver and Isabell Genco; her dear brother Don (Elizabeth) Bartlett of Toronto, Ont., Canada; and many nephews, nieces, and kind friends.
A private memorial service will be held at Tel Hai Retirement Community for residents only. Condolences may be sent to the Friese Family at PO Box 26585, Collegeville, PA 19426. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Tel Hai Care Assurance Fund, PO Box 190, Honey Brook, Pa. 19344-0129.