Marcella Frericks

Marcella M. Frericks, age 88 of Melrose, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 24 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Ken Thielman officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. followed by the Christian Mothers and Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Council at 7 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Marcella Marie Hellermann was born December 6, 1923 in Melrose, Minnesota to Henry and Rosina (Wessel) Hellermann. On June 30, 1947 she married Elmer Frericks at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. The couple farmed north of Melrose until moving to town in 1975. Marcella worked in the kitchen at the Melrose Public School for eight years and then worked in the kitchen at Parkview Center for nine years. She also cleaned at the Melrose Post Office for several years.

Marcella was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers, Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Council, and the Melrose Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed playing cards, especially solo, smear, 500, and a competitive game of 66 with Elmer. She also loved making quilts.

Survivors include her husband, Elmer Frericks of Melrose; children, Vern (Doreen) Frericks of Melrose, Jim (Carol) Frericks of Melrose, Ron (Doris) Frericks of Grey Eagle, Judy (Baylen) Becker of Albany, Jan (Alvin) Dierkhising of Long Prairie, Marlene (Gene) Blommel of Freeport, and Donna (Lester) Sand of Freeport; daughter-in-law, Lois Frericks of Melrose; 28 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Mary Ann Primus of Melrose, Henry (Lorraine) Hellermann of Vadnais Heights, Elmer (Anna) Hellermann of Melrose, Roman (Bernice) Hellermann of Melrose, Dorothy (Alvin) Schneider of Melrose, Simon (Mary) Hellermann of Melrose, and Rosie (Peter) Lehner of Shakopee; and sisters-in-law, Rita Hellermann of Sauk Centre and Kathy Hellermann Elfering of Melrose.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents; infant son, Thomas Frericks; son, Robert Frericks; grandsons, Robert and Matthew Becker; brothers, Paul Hellermann, Norbert Hellermann, and Richard Hellermann; sister, Loretta Hinnenkamp; sister-in-law, Alma Hellermann; and brothers-in-law, Norbert Hinnenkamp and Urban Primus.

Serving as casket bearers will be Judy Becker, Baylen Becker, Jan Dierkhising, Alvin Dierkhising, Marlene Blommel, Gene Blommel, Donna Sand, and Lester Sand. Cross bearer will be Rochelle Gregory and scripture bearer will be Lea Dierkhising.