Frieda Stegerwald

CONCORD, MA- Frieda Blees Stegerwald, 90, died peacefully on Friday January 13 in Bedford, MA after an extended illness. She was predeceased by her husband, Harry R. Stegerwald, in 1980. Both Harry and Frieda are formerly of Norwalk and Cheshire, CT. She is survived by her children, Georgine Stegerwald Feldt and husband Richard, of Hingham, MA; Carl and Linda Stegerwald, of Concord, MA; Curt and Pamela Stegerwald, of Draper, UT; Margot Stegerwald Klope and husband Chester, of Hillsdale, NJ; and Andrea Stegerwald Sansonetti and husband Robert, of Scarborough, ME. Frieda is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, her brother Joseph Blees, and sister-in-law Mary Blees.

Frieda was born in St. Ingbert, Germany in 1921, and in 1923 immigrated to the US with her parents and brother, Karl. They made their home in Norwalk, CT. She attended The College of New Rochelle, NY, where she received a degree in English with a German minor, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She later received her Master's Degree in Education Administration from Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT.

Frieda and Harry were married in 1949. They lived in Watertown, CT where Harry worked for Uniroyal. They spent a year in Caracas, Venezuela, where Harry was plant manager. Upon their return to the States in 1961, they moved to Cheshire, CT. Frieda began her 27 year teaching career at Cheshire High School. Frieda started as a part-time German teacher, taught English as well in the early years, ending her career as the Foreign Language Department Head. She took many students and adults on European trips, which was a great delight to her. Upon retiring from the high school, she worked for the town newspapers and became an ESL teacher for elementary students, retiring in 2001.

Frieda was also active in her church, St. Bridget, where she taught 4th grade CCD for many years, and was also a Eucharistic Minister.

Frieda's children are grateful for her strength, her generosity and for the wonderful home she and Harry built together. And her grandchildren are grateful for the awesome grandmother that she was.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Bridget Church, 175 Main Street, Cheshire, at 11 am on Saturday January 21. Interment to follow at the St. Bridget Cemetery on Higgins Road. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Alzheimer Foundation, 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472.