Mary Fries

Mary Alice Fries, 97, of Oakland, passed away, from health complications after a second battle with COVID, on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at the Egle Nursing Home and Rehab in Lonaconing, MD. Born on June 23, 1926, in Swanton, she was the daughter of the late Edward T. and Clara Grace (Fitzwater) Sweitzer. She was the last surviving member of a large farm family of six brothers, Harry, Arthur, Ernest, Robert, Neale and Edward Sweitzer, Jr., and four sisters, Floda Parrish, Ivy Pace, Hadissie Sweitzer and Nora Hileman.

Mary Alice had a strong work ethic and a feisty, determined, no-nonsense way. She met her future husband while working as a waitress at the William James Hotel in Oakland. Widowed at age 44, she had many jobs, including selling Blair products from home, working in the HP Warehouse, and housekeeper at St. Peters Rectory for Father Larkin and Father Field. She continued to work as a housekeeper and caregiver to many families in Oakland and Cumberland until she retired. She was a member of the Republican Women's Club, Deer Park Homemakers and a member of St. John's Episcopal Church.

Mary is survived by four children, Rosemary Ringer, of Burlington, VT, Romona Stevenson of Mt. Storm, WV, Richard L. Fries of Accident, and Ronaye Paugh of Oakland; four grandsons, Lael Scott Destin, Matthew Paugh, Cody Stevenson and Zachary Paugh; and one great grandson, Jaxon Harvey.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Arlington Boyd Fries, to whom she was married on May 25, 1947, and a daughter, Romayne Fries.

The family would like to extend a special thank you and gratitude to the staff of Eagle Nursing and Rehab in Lonaconing for their excellent care, all the love, kindness and compassion shown to Mary Alice each and every day she lived there.

The C & S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., Oakland is honored to be assisting the family with arranagements and a private service is being planned.