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Obituary
Edna (Miech) Fry, a cherished wife, and friend, passed away on June 21, 2024, at the age of 95. Born on September 26, 1928, in Ulm, Wyoming, Edna was one of eleven children in the Miech family. Her parents, Joseph and Anna, lived a life deeply rooted in the struggles and simplicity of early 20th-century homesteading.
Edna’s childhood was marked by hardship and determination. She walked long distances through harsh winters to attend a one-room schoolhouse, helping her family with farm chores and animal care. Despite the lack of modern conveniences—electricity wasn’t available until the early 1950s—Edna and her siblings worked tirelessly alongside their parents.
In the face of financial constraints that prevented further education, Edna’s resolve remained strong. She earned her high school diploma through night school in Los Angeles in 1965, a testament to her perseverance and commitment to her goals.
In the late 1950s, Edna made a bold move to California with limited means. She found work as a telephone operator at Pacific Bell in Santa Monica, where she met and married Donald Fry on October 12, 1957. The couple settled in Malibu in 1965, where Edna continued to excel in her career at SDC in Santa Monica. Her exceptional work in recovering lost funds earned her recognition and a memorable trip to Hilton San Diego.
Edna was also known for her generosity and culinary skills, especially her homemade pickles, jams, and fruit cakes, which were beloved by all who received them. In her later years, despite challenges with dementia, she adapted with grace and maintained her positive spirit.
Edna’s final months were spent at Montrose, where she embraced her new environment and remained a beacon of warmth and kindness. Her life was a testament to resilience, love, and the joy of giving. Edna is survived by her loving family and many friends who will remember her enduring spirit and kindness.
Memorial Service
Friday, October 4th, 2024
1:00pm Pacific Time (PDT)
In-Person:
Cathedral Memorial Gardens
13280 Chapman Ave,
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Edna’s family invites you to join us at the beautiful Cathedral Memorial Gardens for a memorial service to honor Edna’s life and legacy.
Online:
Please register here to view the recording of the memorial service.
I always enjoyed visiting with Aunt Edna. Such a wise and wonderful lady with the special ability to ensure you felt loved. I loved walking around her yard learning about every tree, flower or plant. Her hugs were the best and the sound of her laugh unforgettable. Knowing her has been a true blessing.
Aunt Edna and Uncle Don touched many lives with their selflessness and countless acts of kindness. When they visited Wyoming, they always made time to see our growing family. We sent them a yearly homemade Christmas calendar as a way for them to see their great-nieces, and great-nephews and the family adventures and milestones that took place during those years. Aunt Edna was always so kind with her delicious homemade fruit cake at Christmas. Aunt Edna was always genuine and interested in our children’s sports and academic accomplishments. She loved all of her family. She modeled hard work and dedication to her family and her occupation. The picture posted is of her and her great-niece Kayla and great-nephew Aaron one summer when she visited Sheridan. We will look for more pictures. Thank you for allowing us to view the online service. It was very nice. ~Gene and Pamela Woodward
I grew up knowing Don and Edna. We were lucky enough to share many Christmas’s, birthdays and holidays together. They came and brought with them an era of generosity, kindness, grace, style, and an old fashioned, well- mannered traditional way. What a life!!! Christmas just isn’t Christmas without her jello cakes made in a bundt pan. She will be treasured and missed forever. RIP Edna Fry. much love from Danielle Lewand
EDNA WAS A VERY LARGE PART OF MY LIFE. I FIRST MET HER AS A NEIGHBOR IN THE MESA. SHE TAUGHT ME HOW TO GARDEN – NOT ONLY THAT BUT SHE CAME DOWN FROM HER HOME TO HELP ME PULL WEEDS ON THE HILL EVERY DAY. SHE CAME TO MY HOME EVERY NIGHT TO HELP ME FEED DINNER TO, BATHE AND READ STORIES TO MY FOUR CHILDREN. SHE MADE US CHOCOLATE CAKES FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR BIRTHDAYS. SHE CAME TO EVERY HOLIDAY – BIRTHDAYS, FOURTH OF JULY, EASTER, CHIRSTMAS ETC. FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR KID’S LIVES. SHE SP0ILED US WITH BASKETS OF JAM, CAKES, CHOCOLATES EVERY TIME SHE CAME. I WILL NEVER FORGET MY EDNA. I LOVED HER.
I consider myself blessed to have known Edna. She was an incredibly caring, happy, and generous person. I have so many incredible memories from her that I will always cherish. I pray my daughters grow up to be as strong and kind as Edna.
The only thing Edna and myself ever butted heads on was the Dodgers. As you know, she was a massive Dodger fan… I am not. So every time I visited, we would sit and watch a Dodger game, and she would try to convert me to the fanbase. I always loved sitting and talking baseball with her, and watching the games with her was always one of my favorite parts of any visit.
I will always remember her yearly deliveries of nuts and fruit cakes; I wondered how much work for everyone who cherished the Christmas gifts. We all miss you.
Oh man! Loved getting the box of nuts at Christmas time!!
Sweetest memories dear Edna. Thanksgiving day holds a special place in our hearts as we would always spend them with you. Rest in Peace.
Rest in Pease Edna
Life Well Lived
Love Patty
My Aunt Edna Fry was a great lady. She always kept in touch with family, even though we’re miles apart. Every time I got to see her she was so kind and loving. Prayers and Hugs to the family. R.I.P. You’ll always be in my heart. ❤️ Debra Miech-Thompson.
Aunt Edna was a very generous person. She and Uncle Don flew me out to their home after I graduated High School and opened up their Malibu home to me for two weeks. They took me to all of the attractions and spoiled me during my stay. She would give me instructions as to what Uncle Donald (she corrected me immediately when she heard me call him Uncle Don) could and couldn’t do. He didn’t listen to her at all and did what he wanted. When I told him he wasn’t supposed to be eating that ice cream he would just wink at me and carry on. Then when we would get back to the house she would ask me if he had behaved. Of course I kept his secrets. So glad I got to spend that time with them and that she is now reunited with Uncle Don.
My memories of Edna go back 65 years when her and Don would visit us in Sheridan, Wyoming. A few years after that our family moved to southern California for five years and during that time we saw Don and Edna frequently. The year that we moved there, was the same year that Don and Edna moved into their house in Malibu.
Often when they came to our house, Edna wanted to play a card game with us called “Oh Hell”. I remember she could never win but she was determined every time we played.
I remember her kindness and generosity and of course, her chokecherry jam.
With Edna and Mom being the youngest of the children and the last two remaining survivors, they talked daily and Edna helped out Mom financially. It was hard on Edna when Mom passed because with Edna being the eldest of the two, she told me she had always expected Mom to out live her. Both of them are greatly missed but we were fortunate to have both of them into their 90’s.
I will always remember sitting at her dining room table with my family looking out over the ocean and listening to her cat, Kiki, talking to us.
My fondest memories of Aunt Edna were her lilting laugh and her bear hugs. Those hugs would embrace you and squeeze you so tight they would literally take your breath away. You knew how much she loved you in those moments. She exuded joy and happiness whenever we got together with her. She was a best friend of my mom and came across country with her and they became roommates upon their arrival in California. She was the kindest of souls and will be missed by so many.
Love and hugs to you Aunt Edna!
We were so blessed to have Aunt Edna in our lives. Both Aunt Edna & Uncle Don were both our mentors, confidants & stand-in parents, especially when our Mothers were gone. She got a kick out of the Mother’s Day cards we sent. She was a constant in our lives. Her good attitude & always ready to listen with great interest encouraged us. Our weekly conversations are greatly missed. Aunt Edna never failed to ask about our children, grandchildren & greatgrandchild by name wanting to know the latest on them. We miss her chuckle and laugh at the antics of the younger ones. Many times we talked about how we wished we lived closer so she could enjoy them with us. Although Don & Edna never had children, they had many they took under their wings. Because of that, they left a legacy through each of us.
Our hearts wish you were still with us Aunt Edna, we know how much you missed Uncle Don and are happy you are reunited with him.
Until we meet again, much love to you Aunt Edna!
Bill and Angie H.
the sadness of the last sibling passing breaks my heart Aunt Edna was a very classy lady. I miss her beautiful smile and Christmas cards I absolutely loved her fruit cakes everyone thought I was crazy because I couldn’t wait to get the cakes from her. Aunties fruit cakes were the only one I liked. RIP Aunt Edna Love Wyla M