Constance E. Frey

is honored with a Brick from Jessica J. Frey.

Constance Elizabeth Hartnett Frey was born in El Dorado, Kansas, April 30, 1941 and died January 3, 1993. She was the second to the youngest of three sisters and two brothers. As a girl she developed a love for music and became a proficient piano and organ player. She could play Beethoven or Scott Joplin equally well. When it came time to go to college, the money was not there. Her two older brothers and sisters had depleted the funds. At the time, most girls chose marriage after high school anyway, it was expected as the most logical choice for girls to make.

In her life she went on to raise four children, she did this as a single working parent, and for eight of those years as a stay-at-home Mom. When she was at home she cooked, cleaned, and made a lot of our clothes. Originally, the reason for work outside of the home was to support her children; she was a secretary, as that was the only training other than homemaking she received in high school. Eventually she was promoted, and given more opportunity. She worked for the Sheriff and at Wichita State. She also worked at The Residence Inn Corporation, as a real estate agent and then finally in the school system. Despite her lack of a college degree, she excelled as an employee. None of this was easy but she never gave up. The last years of her life she did go back to school, in pursuit of the degree she never had (with A's in every class).

We, the children of Constance E. Frey, have purchased this brick in her memory. She taught us many things in life, yet all she wanted in return was for her family to be happy. She was a daughter, sister, friend, mother, grandmother and women. We miss her greatly and hope she knows what a great job she did as our Mother. She was loved by many and will never be forgotten.

For Mom

I will always love you,
your essence will remain a
part of my mind forever.
I know you will be watching
over me until it is my time,
making sure I do the right thing.
I hope life after is as promising
as it seems to a mortal being
living a life by circumstance.
I stay on this earth without you
to carry on your kind heart
and goodwill to all that touch me.
I have learned more from your
teachings as a parent than I
could possibly learn from any peer.
I want to pass on the joy,
which you gave my sisters and
me, to your grandchildren.
I need you in my soul, to be
able to live my life on earth
and to live in peace with myself.
I cry tears of joy for your spirit
once trapped in pain, now free
in the pleasure of eternal life.
I love you, Mom.

Submitted with love by Traci, Jessica, Gus, and Katie

September 12, 1998