Kay Gwendolyn Fritz

Kay Gwendolyn Fritz of Brighton, Michigan, age 90, passed away peacefully on July 16th, 2024.  She was lovingly comforted by family at her bedside.

Born on September 9, 1933, the daughter of Kathryn and Isadore Montcalm, Kay was the second youngest in a family of 7 that include her siblings Patricia, John, Mack, Donna, Bonnie and Jerry.

Kay married William (Bill) Fritz on July 12th, 1952, and the two shared 72 amazing, loving, joy-filled years together.

She is survived by her husband, Bill, and their four children Deborah Elliott and her husband, Robert, Peggy Fritz, Bill Fritz Jr. and his wife Kathleen French, and Jeff Fritz and his wife Joan.

So much of the joy that filled Kay’s life came from the love she had for her five grandchildren and their spouses; Jennie Cox and her husband Brad, Ryan Froelich and his wife Kyra Ann, John, Eric and Maggie, plus her great-grandchildren Connor, Kaelyn, Olivia and Caleb - not to mention countless nieces and nephews who thought of her as their “fun-loving aunt”.

Kay was a voracious reader, finishing books faster than she could find new ones at the public library.  She also never turned down a game of cards, especially cribbage and Nines. If you won, you knew it was hard fought and earned!  In her later years, one of Kay's cherished outdoor activities was golfing every morning with her husband and son-in-law (Bob) as they made their presence known on the links.

But more than anything, Kay’s meaning and purpose throughout her life was her unwavering love and devotion to her kids - she was the best version of a hands-on Mom, attending countless school events and volunteer programs in support of her children.

Initial condolences sent to the family highlight the qualities that made Kay so special to us all ... she was quick-witted, determined and most of all, knew the importance of family and how enjoyable life was because of them.

While Kay will be missed immensely, we remind ourselves how blessed and lucky we were all these years to have the best wife, mom, grandma, great grandma, aunt and friend as part of our lives, and now, forever in our hearts.

One of Kay’s final requests was to celebrate the full life she had, so a Celebration of Life event is being planned for this fall for family and friends.