Mary H. Frede

Mary Helen Frede was born on November 18, 1949, the beloved daughter of the late Walter and Mary Catherine. She slipped away peacefully to meet them in joyful reunion in the early morning hours of February 15, 2025. She leaves behind family that were dear to her including her Cincinnati cousins Kay, Sally, Bill, Gail & Sharon, and her Michigan cousins Mary Francis, Tom & Marg, and Dick & Sue. 

Mary spent her life gathering people everywhere she went. She had lifelong friends from St.Dominic grade school and later Seton High School. Her professional life led her to Taft Law as an administrative assistant where she enjoyed many good and productive years and cultivated more enduring friendships. 

Mary was a gifted athlete and many of her friendships also sprang from that. From summertime softball leagues to fledgling adult soccer leagues to tennis and racquetball, where her forehand was something to be feared, she loved it all. She was a lifelong Reds fan, a passion she shared with her dad. And she was a super fan of women’s sports of any kind. You could count on a text with commentary if there was a close game happening somewhere. 

She liked to travel and was blessed to be able to tour through Europe and Ireland with a group of friends, and enjoyed a trip through Alaska. She loved the natural beauty of the American west and made several trips to tour that region, always with friends in tow. And even though she was born and raised in OH-IO, she was a true blue Michigan fan. She loved the state and all its natural beauty, and she rooted for those Wolverines and flew that flag proudly.

Mary’s garden was a thing of beauty and her place of peace and relaxation. There was always something new to see whether it was a planting or a new thing of whimsy. She was equally enamored by both. And her many bird feeders ensured that none would go hungry and brought her great pleasure as she watched them fly in and out. Her gardens reflected her - patient, and full of life and color with a bit of humor. A tip of the cap to the guys from Robben Florist who were her generous delivery men, hauling many (very many!) bags of topsoil into her back yard when it became too much for her to handle. God bless them. They gifted her with the ability to work in her garden right through this last autumn.

Her canine companions were some of the great joys of her life. Nikki, a sheltie that she shared with her dad when they moved into the Glenhaven house, was the first. Nikki kept her dad company while Mary was at work, and he fed her Cheerios every morning with his breakfast. Dominic followed, a much bigger golden mix who slept in a laundry basket until he outgrew that in 3 months. He was a big happy fella. Fritz brought up the rear, a beagle/dachshund rescue pup who was her boon companion in her retirement years. They were both lucky to have each other. 

The best thing about Mary Helen (Fred, as she is known to many of us) Frede was that she loved with an open hand. She was good to all, generous, loyal, kind, so funny and so much fun. For those of us whose paths she crossed, her friendship was a gift. She will live on in our memories and in our stories, and we will be always grateful for the time we shared. 

Mary's life will be celebrated on Monday, February 24th with a visitation (St. Dominic Church Gathering Space) from 9 AM until time of funeral mass at 10 AM at St. Dominic Church.

Mary had a passion and a curiosity for the natural world. If you desire to make a contribution in her memory she would be gratified if you would consider the Cincinnati Nature Center. https://cincynature.ticketapp.org/portal/product/17