Helen Grace Fritsche

Fritsche, Helen Grace ‘HG’, 83, of Galloway, NJ passed away peacefully after a long illness at Seashore Gardens Living Center, on October 23, 2019. Born May 4, 1936 to Kathryn E. Breckley and Samuel G. Breckley, Helen Grace was raised in Absecon, NJ and graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1954. An accomplished violinist in high school, she also had an excellent voice and sang in her high school and church choir. Helen Grace was a life-long member and sang in the United Methodist Church Senior Choir for many years. She also directed the church’s junior choir in the 60's and 70's with Ellen McGinnis. During that time, the junior choir expanded to 40 members. She loved being involved in the choir because it was her opportunity to pass on her passion for music to the choir members. She was an excellent seamstress and crocheter, and especially loved to sing, dance and travel. She cherished her Pennsylvania Dutch roots and enjoyed visiting her family in the Harrisburg area, having spent many childhood summer vacations there. Helen Grace worked for James Salt Water Taffy on the AC Boardwalk during her high school years. From 1967 to her retirement in 2009, HG held various secretarial and administrative positions with local companies, including the Historic Smithville Inn, Seaview Country Club, Prudential, Midlantic Bank, Caesars/Hotel Casino, Computer Sciences Corporation, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. Helen Grace spent her last 8 years as a resident at Seashore Gardens Living Center where she was tended to by a dedicated and loving staff. She was well known by the staff and they all expressed to HG’s family a favorite memory of the sassy Absecon girl. She was also cared for by the Greenwood Hospice staff since February of this year. She was lovingly cared for by Sue, Vergy and Nancy. Helen Grace was predeceased by her siblings, Samuel, Joan Myra and Kathryn Breckley, her mother, Kathryn E. Breckley, her son, Edward Fritsche, and father, Samuel G. Breckley. She is survived by her daughter, Debra (Fritsche) Sommers (John), her beloved grandchildren, Olivia, Johnny and Matthew Sommers, and her best friend over the years, Joanna Clark Idler. Services will be held on November 2, 2019 at the United Methodist Church at Absecon, 100 Pitney Rd., Absecon, NJ. Calling hours will be from 2:30PM to 3:30PM, with a service to commence at 3:30PM. Interment will follow the church service at the church’s cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions in her memory to either the United Methodist Church at Absecon, 100 Pitney Road, Absecon, NJ 08201 or Seashore Gardens Living Center, 22 W. Jimmie Leeds Rd. Galloway, NJ 08201. For online condolences, please visit www.parselsfh.com.