WAYNE HENRY FRITZ

1936 – 2026

Our beloved Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, and friend passed away peacefully into the loving arms of his Saviour Jesus Christ on Saturday, on July 18, 2026 with his wife Mary and daughters Cindy and Donna by his side.

He had been struggling with Parkinson’s and other illnesses, yet never complained. Now his struggle is over and he is in heaven with no more pain and joining his parents Leona and Carl Fritz, his children Kevin Fritz and Darlene Flynn, who went before him.

Wayne was born in St. Mary’s, PA on April 19, 1936 to his parents, Leona (Eckert) and Carl Fritz. He lived in the homestead on Washington Street where his father and grandfather had been birthed before him. He was an only child, but had a few very close cousins, Ronnie Rollick and Donny Eckert, that were like brothers to him. In 1954 he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Josephine Hanes, and they spent the next 71+ years together with their five children and extended family: Darlene (Dar, the Shoe Lady) Flynn formerly of Romoland, CA, Cynthia (Cindy Fritz) Thomas and her husband Robert (Bob) of Rochester, NH, Donna Cunha of Rochester, NH, Steven Fritz and his wife Maureen(Levesque) of Cornelia, GA, and Kevin Fritz and his wife Paula(Zerdes) of Seabrook , NH. He leaves behind many grandchildren Karianne(Thomas) & husband James Viavattine, Robert (Bobby) Thomas, Corey & his wife Anna Fritz, Kayla(Fritz) & her husband Shea Price, Chelsey(Fritz) & her husband Troy Mason, Shawn Flynn, Heather(Fritz) and her husband Nathan Silvia, Sarah Mahoney, Nicholas and Jacob Cunha, and great grandchildren Harper Rae Thomas, Cruz and Kaiya Viavattine, Chastain Flynn, James Cunha; Shiloh, Rowdy and Madyx Price; Owen, Graham and Declan Fritz; and many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and cousins,

He loved the ocean, lakes and mountains and spent much of his time there with family and friends, as well as golfing, bowling, camping, fishing, and hunting. Wayne loved playing and watching football, motorcycling, snowmobiling and sailing. He and Mary travelled all over the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean islands and Bermuda.

He lived in St. Mary’s until 1960 when he moved to Tonawanda, NY, then Grand Island, NY, then moved to Barrington, NH. When he retired he spent some time by the ocean at Plum Island and Salisbury, MA, then moved to Seabrook, NH where he established Makeway Machine, until his second retirement, when he moved to warm sunshine in Sun City, CA for the next 20 years. He settled in Rochester, NH for his final years.

Wayne was a Machinist and Manager his whole life and most of his working years were at Spaulding Fibre Co., later becoming Monogram in Tonawanda, NY, then relocated to Rochester, NH. He had a special gift for machining and designed some unique machines that made parts shipped all over the world. He established Makeway Machine in Seabrook, NH. He graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in his home town of St. Mary’s, PA.

In his younger years he was involved with the Junior Jaycees to develop youth leaders in business. He was known as “king of the pool” where he always had the neighborhood pool and taught his children to swim.

A memorial service will be held on August 23, 2026 at 1:00 pm at Edgerly Funeral Home in Rochester NH, immediately followed by a Celebration of Life at the Elks Lodge in Rochester, NH.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memoriam of Wayne to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.