Obituary of Rosalie Elaine Fredericks

Rosalie Elaine Fredericks, 95, formerly of 218 Old Maple Hill Rd in Canajoharie died on November 16, 2022, at her daughter MaryAnn’s home in Los Molinos, CA where she had been living and lovingly cared for by MaryAnn and her family. 

Rosalie was born on July 7, 1927 in Carmel, NY the second of seven girls to Mr. Fred Smith and Mrs. Edith Hellen Smith. Her family moved to Sharon Springs in 1929 where they lived and raised Jersey cows on their dairy farm. She graduated from Sharon Springs Central School and was proud to attend their annual alumni dinners. 

She was married to Mr. George R. Fredericks on November 30, 1946. Together they built their own home, and dairy farm business. Rosalie loved farming and valued hard work and self-sufficiency. She and George were blessed with six children whom they raised with the same values. 

Rosalie leaves behind her children; Richard (Alanna) Fredericks of Herkimer, NY, Diane (Alfred) Spranger of Cleveland, NY, Andrew (Cindy) Fredericks of Canajoharie, NY, MaryAnn (William) Crain of Los Molinos, CA and Susanne Wheeler of Bradenton, FL. She also leaves behind 11 Grandchildren and 11 Great Grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband George on October 10, 1996, daughter JoAnn Coghlan who passed away in 2020, son-in-law Fred Wheeler and grandson Mat Fredericks who also passed away in 2020, and grandson David Coghlan who passed away in 2021. 

Rosalie was a communicant of St John's & St Mark’s Lutheran Church of Canajoharie and was a 30-year member of the Cross Trails Square Dance Club. She travelled to her daughter MaryAnn’s home in CA every fall beginning in 1983 to help during the walnut harvest with childcare and the harvest itself – both in the factory and hand picking dropped walnuts. She liked crafting and belonged to the Home Bureau - during her life she made ceramics, hand woven rugs and scarves, sewed clothing and quilts and hand embroidery. 

She and George loved to make maple syrup, raise sheep, grow raspberries while running the dairy farm and assisted her daughter Susanne with her hobby farm and caring for horses. 

Rosalie was active for most of her 95 years - riding her adult tricycle to age 92, driving tractor and ATV, snowmobiling, picking raspberries, strawberries, picking and hand cracking walnuts, riding in a hot air balloon, cutting and splitting her own firewood, etc. More than anything she loved her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren and enjoyed watching them laugh and play. 

A Service of Remembrance will take place on Friday, December 16, 2022 at 11:00 am  at St John’s St Mark’s Lutheran Church 143 Church St Canajoharie, NY 13317. A Calling Hour will precede the service beginning at 10:00 am.
A private graveside service will take place at Canajoharie Falls Cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Rosalie’s memory to St John’s & St Mark’s Lutheran Church Box 275, Canajoharie, NY, 13317 or the Ayres Animal Shelter 133 Hilltop Rd, Sprakers, NY 12166.  

Arrangements have been entrusted to Lenz & Betz Funeral Home 69 Otsego St Canajoharie, NY 13317.