Mary Elaine (Tuchfarber) Froehle

 Mary Elaine Froehle (nee Tuchfarber) passed away peacefully on October 30, 2022 at the age of 87.  She was surrounded by her family at the end, and while we have no idea how to live without her, she will expect us to carry on in a way that is fitting of her progeny.  We will do our best.

A wife for 64 years, a mother of 9 children, a grandmother of 18 and a great-grandmother of 10 (soon to be 11), Mom obviously loved a big crowd.  She lived her life intent on making sure that each and every one of us in that crowd knew they were fiercely loved, starting with our father.
Mary Tuchfarber married Jim Froehle on her birthday, July 12, 1958.  From that day on, they would spend many decades building one hell of a life together. Dad loved to tell the story of how Mom doubted she “would ever have any children”, while he rolled his eyes at her with his great laugh.  They had children, a lot of them, and Mom truly earned Dad’s favorite nickname for her-"Mother Goose”.  While she had many interests and many jobs during her life, what she loved, what she seemed born to do, was to be Jim’s wife and raise their family.  She had no idea what the next 64 years had in store for her, but when she married Jim Froehle, she never looked back.  

People are often amazed that our parents raised nine children.  Mom was the self-described housewife who handled most of the daily child-rearing.  For seventeen years, much of the child-rearing happened at the legendary 344 Bob Drive in Delhi.  It is impossible to choose a best Mom story from our days at Bob Drive, and many of those stories probably should not show up in an obituary anyway.  Instead, we will just say that several of us were amazed to find out that not all mothers cursed like a truck driver or were willing to chase you to school with a yard stick just to make sure you got there.  We have come to appreciate that we were raised by a woman who was authentic to the core.  Through all the struggles, she showed us the joy and laughter that can come from being the truest version of yourself.  

By the time she became a grandmother and then great-grandmother, Mom had perfected her philosophy of “fierce love, true Tuchfarber”.  We suspect that all of our children believe that they were her favorite because she had enough of that love to spread around. And my goodness, they loved her back.  It has been a beautiful thing to watch them grow up with a grandmother they adored for many reasons, including her looney sense of humor and her love of the party.

Finally, Mom had another Tuchfarber to share the journey-her sister Sylvia. There was a deep love shared between those two sisters and we will always be grateful to our Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Ed for their devotion to Mom during her long illness.  We love you.  

This obituary could go on for many pages, Mom left us a lot of material.  We hope you can join us in a celebration of Mom’s life so that the stories can all be told.

Mary Froehle was born on July 12, 1935, she is survived by her husband Jim.  She is also survived by her children Mary Beth Claus (David), Jean Leisure, Mark Froehle, John Froehle (Maria), Paula Froehle (Todd), Bob Froehle (Chris), Bill Froehle (Lanie), Kathy Morman (Rich) and Brian Froehle (Nikki), as well as her grandchildren Matthew Leisure (Laura), Nathan Claus (Rachel), Abigail Esmena Froehle, Nicole Powers (Joe), Erin Craig (Kevin), Jenna Leisure, Ben Claus, Tyler Froehle, Alexander Kellison, Ryan Claus, Brendon Froehle (Courtney), Michael Froehle, Brooke Froehle, Madison Froehle, Grace Kellison, Steven Morman, Katelyn Morman and Megan Morman, and her greatgrandchildren Tai Stewart, Kiyah Barnes, Kawai Stewart, Jaxen Powers, Nora Leisure, Jade Powers, Grace Leisure, Princeton James Barnes, Wesley Froehle and Adelaide Claus.  Mary is survived by her sister Sylvia Besse (Ed) and was preceded in death by her parents, Henrietta and William Tuchfarber, and her brothers Bill and Paul (her twin).  

In closing, Mom was raised Catholic and was a deeply religious person her entire life.  It seems appropriate to end with a reflection from the Carmelite Monastery in Ireland that asks a profound question that can help us with our grief, and remind us not only what we lost, but what we can do to always remember:

Death is nothing at all-I have only slipped away into the 
next room.  Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.  
Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way you
always used.  Laugh as we always laughed together.  Play, smile, think
of me, pray for me.  Let my name be the household word that it always was. 
Let it be spoken without effort. Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was; there is absolutely unbroken continuity.  
Why should I be out of your mind because I am out of your sight?  
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere
very near just around the corner.  All is well.  
Nothing is past; nothing Is lost.  One brief moment and all will be 
as it was before-only better, infinitely happier and forever,
we will all be together with Christ. 

Memorial Mass will be Friday, November 18, 2022 at 10:00 AM at St. Dominic Church.

The celebration of Mary's life will continue at The Farm, 239 Anderson Ferry Rd. Cincinnati Oh 45238, from 11:15 AM until 2:15 PM
 

In lieu of flowers, Mary’s family asks that you consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, an organization that is committed to funding the acceleration of global research into methods of treatment, prevention, and eventually a cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Elaine (Tuchfarber) Froehle, please visit our floral store.