Patricia A. Fricke
Patricia Ann (Pike) Fricke January 16, 1928 – January 16, 2024
Patricia Ann Fricke of Haddonfield, NJ passed away on January 16, 2024, her 96th birthday. She died as gracefully as she lived. She was the beloved wife of the late Roger Henry Fricke, and is survived by her four children, Jennifer Sawchuk, Todd Fricke (Debbie Morgan), Wynn Fricke (Mark Nunberg), Bryan Fricke (Rachel Weiler), eleven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Patricia was born in Chicago, IL to Frances Wynn Heile and Charles Heyfield Pike. She enjoyed a loving and adventurous childhood including summers in Wisconsin. In her early 20s she volunteered for the American Friends Service and spent considerable time in rural Mexico doing charitable work. This is where she decided her career would involve helping people. She then attended Philadelphia General Hospital’s nursing program where she was the president of the class, known for her dry sense of humor and magnetic personality. She was known as “the pioneer of matrimony” because she was the first nursing student to marry while in the program. Her loving marriage to Roger lasted 52 years until his death. In the late 1960s, they moved to their Woodland Avenue home in Haddonfield, NJ where they raised four children. It was the first house she and the realtor saw, and as soon as she stepped inside she said, “We’ll take it”. She lived in the house until her last breath, 56 years later. She loved being a school nurse in the Camden, NJ school district for over 20 years. She had many many years of perfect attendance and retired with distinction in 1994. During her 30 years of retirement, she was surrounded by family, and cared for Roger during his final years. She loved summers at the Jersey shore, the many walks through town, dinners on Kings Highway, and shopping at the Acme. She discovered the wonderful Tai Chi programs at the Methodist Church and Mabel Kay House and practiced for many years. She talked to her older sister Bam just about every day until Bam’s death last January.
Even when her body started to fail, she always made it to her post at the kitchen counter for 5 o’clock wine. She chopped onions and garlic, listened to the family updates with a smile, and concluded dinner with ice cream (always low calorie), with her beloved kitty on her lap. Patricia was an inspiration to her family and those who knew her. She lived a wonderful and inspiring life filled with fun, love, and kindness which we celebrate.
Memorial donations may be made in Mrs. Fricke’s name to Samaritan Hospice or to the Camden Companions Animal Rescue (via Venmo donations @Camden-Companions.)
Services will be held at a future date, for updates please check www.KainMurphy.com