Brigitte was born on 12.08.1944 in Silesia, today’s Poland. She arrived in Adelsdorf with her mother Maria and dad at the age of two after the expulsion from Silesia. She was a quiet, shy child. After school, she trained in home economics at the Don Bosco Home in Würzburg.
She then worked in a household in Erlangen. She was popular everywhere with her manner.
Her mother Maria Fröhlich, born name Schwanitz, was born on March 2, 1920 in Silesia. She had no siblings and grew up on a large farm. She met her husband Andreas Fröhlich there during the war and the two married. Brigitte’s mother died on January 29, 1993 in the clinic in Bamberg. Her father Andreas Fröhlich was born on September 16, 1919 in Adelsdorf.
His parents had a sawmill and they were twelve siblings. He worked as a truck driver. Brigitte met her husband Jim in Germany and they married in 1965, just like the siblings Karl-Heinz and his twin sister Gerda. Brigitte went to America with her Jim in 1966 to live with him. She didn’t know what to expect in the distant country, but she learned to love it for herself and created her life and her circle of friends. Brigitte’s father died on March 3, 1993 in the Höchstadt clinic. They were still able to celebrate their 50th marriage anniversary together, for which Brigitte and her sons were there.
Her parents really enjoyed being able to see their daughter from a distance and her grandchildren. Her brother Karl-Heinz Fröhlich, born on October 25, 1946 in Forchheim, was an engineer at Siemens, he had two children, a son and a daughter. He died in a traffic accident in Alzenau on November 27, 1986. Her younger brother Andreas Fröhlich, born on September 23, 1955 in Forchheim, He worked as an industrial foreman at Siemens. He has two sons and a daughter. He died on February 18, 2018 in Bamberg. Gerda Fröhlich is now the only living sister. Like her twin brother Karl-Heinz, she was born on October 25, 1946.
I wish my sister eternal rest and will always pray for her. We spoke regularly on the phone and always had good contact from afar. We were able to celebrate her 50th birthday together during our joint visit to America, which she was very happy about.
Brigitte worked for many years as a supervisor at Lee County Industries, helping people with challenges learn and produce items for local manufacturing companies. She was loved by her clients, and respected and sought after by local manufacturers. After similar work in Raleigh, NC, she worked for a number of years at Coty before retiring. While maintaining her native German language, Brigitte learned to speak, read, and write English better than most Americans.
Brigitte raised her four sons in a country foreign to her, in a second language, as a single parent, thousands of miles from home. She instilled in her sons a lifelong love of nature and learning. Brigitte will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Brigitte was preceded in death by her ex-husband George Joseph Valentic II, her son Armin Karl-Heinz, grandson David Andreas, brother Karl-Heinz Froehlich, and brother Andreas Froehlich.
She is survived by her Son George Josef III, Karl Heinz and wife Cindy, son James Alson, and five grandchildren.
Condolences may be sent to www.coxmemorialfuneralhome.com.
The family has entrusted services to Cox Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory of Vass.
