On Friday, August 5, 2022, Anna Elizabeth (Hand) Fritsch passed peacefully from this life at the age of 95. Her children, Karen Masteller and Paul Fritsch, were by her side. Formerly of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 2014 Anna moved to Christiana, Tennessee where she lived with her daughter Karen and son-in-law Gary. Her favorite pastime was sitting on the back porch reading or appreciating the countryside.
Born April 7, 1927 in Muir, Pennsylvania, Anna was the second of Blanche and Albert Hand’s five children. She was predeceased by older brother Jay and younger brother Fred. Her two younger siblings are Roger Hand of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and Phyllis Raudenbush of Elizabethville, Pennsylvania. Within the Hand relation, she is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
On April 9, 1949 in Bath, Pennsylvania, she married Paul Warren Fritsch of Allentown who passed away September 29, 2007. Most of their 58 years of marriage were spent in the same cozy ranch in Allentown, but they both enjoyed traveling throughout the Northeast, Canada, Florida, and England always either with family or to see family. Relationships were important to Anna. She often visited or called or sent cards to siblings, cousins, children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors, in-laws, and extended family.
An avid reader and inquisitive learner, Anna was an excellent student having perfect attendance throughout her school career except for one missed day. She graduated from Porter Township High School, Tower City, Pennsylvania, in 1945 and from the Allentown Hospital School of Nursing in 1948. From 1948-1957, she worked in the Emergency Room of Allentown Hospital and from 1958-1963 in the OB/GYN Department. From 1963-1986, she was the head nurse in Dr. Henry Lehrich’s GP medical practice in Allentown. Besides using her medical expertise and compassionate bedside manner on the job, she was willingly available to offer her healing advice and care to family and friends. For a short time in 1953, she cared for her father until he succumbed to cancer, and for many years she provided a home for her mother who passed away in 2000, 28 days shy of her 100th birthday.
The loves of her life were her three grandsons: Ryan Masteller married to Julie, Kyle Masteller married to Lindsi, and Evan Masteller engaged to Kayla. The three boys cherish the love and memories they hold from spending time at Nana and PopPop’s house. Anna also had a special sweet spot for her one great grandson Rowan, son of Ryan and Julie. Each time Rowan visited, he stood next to Nana to gauge his growth. There was great celebration when he reached her height. Anna also had the occasional privilege of puppy sniffs and snuggles from her two great granddogs, Frenchton Reggie and Blue Heeler Sherman.
Besides reading, Anna’s other favorite pastime was watching baseball with her grandsons. Since she hailed from eastern Pennsylvania, she was a “Philadelphia Phillies Phanatic” through and through. Also important to her was her faith. For many decades she attended First Presbyterian Church in Allentown. Upon moving to Tennessee, she often attended or watched sermons online from World Outreach Church and the Experience Community Church. She was steady in reading daily devotionals and scripture from the Guideposts publications.
It is daunting to single-handedly manage the challenges of life; teamwork is better. Battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for many years, Anna appreciated the help and support from many doctors, nurses, medical technicians, etc. After a stay at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in late 2021 because of pneumonia, she returned home with the help of Amedisys Home Health Care. The physical therapists, occupational therapists, and nurses encouraged her and helped her regain physical independence and experience marked improvement in her quality of life. She was so grateful for their expertise, support, and laughter over many months.
In July, 2022, after Anna had a month-long stay in Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital under expert compassionate care, we called upon another team to help us…Alive Hospice. The complications from the lymphoma were too much for Anna’s 95-year-old body so she returned home under hospice care for about a week. We needed their support, and they were there. With deepest appreciation, we extend our thanks to our nurse, chaplain, social worker, and aide. Alive Hospice is a valuable community resource. In honor of Anna, a donation may be sent to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203 or online at alivehospice.org.
Anna’s life will be remembered and celebrated privately by the family. Her final resting place will be beside her dear husband Paul in Grandview Cemetery, Allentown. In John 14:2-3, Jesus promised He would go ahead into the heavenly realms to prepare mansions for us…probably with porches. Look for Anna and Paul to be enjoying the back one.
