Obituary of Tessie M. Frisch

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of Tessie Frisch, 95, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  Tessie passed away peacefully in Tequesta, Florida.  She was born in Jackson Heights, Queens, to Antoinette and Paul, and grew up on Long Island. Tessie and her brother, John, were the last of seven siblings, and he passed 2 weeks after Tessie.  She was married to the love of her life, Bill, until his passing last year. They met in Junior High and were married after Bill returned home from serving in the Navy during WW ll.

Tessie worked for Equitable Insurance in Manhattan, until they were married.  She was a loving mother and homemaker for many years.  Tessie returned to work as a secretary at Mepham High School and later retired from the admissions department of a nursing home.  Upon retirement, they moved to Ballston Lake to be near her daughter and her family.

Tessie is survived by her daughter, Diane (Joe) of Altamont, her grandchildren, Ryan (Marissa) McGovern of Jupiter, FL, and Heather (Jeff) O’Keefe of Slingerlands, five great grandchildren, Kennedy, Chase, Teagan, Delaney and Connor and several nieces and nephews.

Family was always important to Tessie.  She was there to lend a helping hand when her grandchildren were born, as well as enjoying watching them grow up.  She attended Ryan’s crew races, football, basketball and baseball games. Tessie loved watching Heather play field hockey, soccer, and cheerleading at football and basketball games and attending the piano and dance recitals.  She was fortunate to attend her grandchildren’s weddings, as well as to meet her 5 great grandchildren. 

She loved to cook and bake.  Her recipes were often not in measured amounts, "just little of this and a little of that” and everything she made was delicious!
Ryan and Heather loved spending time with Nanny.  They made homemade spaghetti with the family pasta maker and were covered in flour during the process.
Tessie always made great "dinners to go" on dance and piano lesson days for us.  She loved hosting Sunday Dinners every week and many holidays.  Every special celebration included a tray of her pizzelles, which everyone enjoyed, especially Ryan’s puppy, Burton.

Tessie liked to travel and she made the arrangements and Bill unhappily went along, while finally  enjoying the trip.  She loved the Grand Canyon most of all, along with Bermuda, Germany and Italy. She truly enjoyed summer weekends at the beach house on Long Island with the family.   She also took some fun trips with her sister, Mary. Then when the grandchildren arrived, she took them on trips to Toys R Us.

 She was always helpful and kind.  She enjoyed being the guest for a child at the Valentine Sweetheart kindergarten parties, when a parent was unable to attend.  They had fun reading the Valentine cards together. She was always there to help when there was a sick child who couldn’t go to school.

She was in the Rosary Society at Corpus Christi Church, where she met such lovely friends.  After being in their home for a number of years, they moved to Coburg Village.  They loved going to the shows and movies there.  Then we had our wonderful team of caregivers, Debra, Shannelle, Rose, Carol and Dawn, to whom we are forever grateful.  Then Tessie moved to Florida.

We want to thank Mark and Eric from Catricala Funeral home for their guidance.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 11th, at 11 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church, with a calling hour preceding the Mass at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Saratoga National Cemetery.

If you wish, donations may be made to the following, in memory of Tessie Frisch:
Corpus Christi Church, 2001 RT 9, Round Lake, NY 12151, the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 500 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.