Elfreda Burich

VISITATION:

10 a.m., Wednesday, July 29 at Central Lutheran Church, 28 E. Columbia St., Chippewa Falls

CELEBRATION OF LIFE:

11 a.m., Wednesday, July 29 at Central Lutheran Church, 28 E. Columbia St., Chippewa Falls

Elfreda "Fritz" Burich, age 93, passed away July 25, 2015 in Chippewa Falls.

She was born in Colfax, Wisconsin on May 11, 1922. She was the daughter of Albert and Martha (Tietz) Olson. She attended grade school in Knapp; junior high and high school in Menomonie, graduating with the class of 1939.

She moved with her family from Knapp to Chippewa Falls in June 1939, where her family owned and operated The Olson Caf. She married Anthony "Tony" Burich of Chippewa Falls on April 4, 1942. She continued to work for the family business, which then moved to the Creamland Dairy in 1945, where she worked as the secretary and served her father's famous Olson's Ice Cream until 1980.

Elfreda went on to work at the Chippewa City Office of Aging as a site manager in the nutrition department, working for 16 years at the Northern Center site. She also worked at the Romeis Millstream Apartments, Northern Apartments, and the Senior Center. In 2011, at the age of 88, she retired. She was a member of Central Lutheran Church and the Senior Center. It was through these positions that she discovered her love to serve and connect with others.

Elfreda's other love was her family, and she especially enjoyed times when her family was gathered around her. At Christmas time, her Swedish meatballs were a welcomed delight, but her love of lutefisk was not. She was well known for her sassy attitude and her ability to make you laugh with a well-placed one liner. Her granddaughters fondly remember her for her delicious chocolate chip cookies, homemade pickles and grape jelly, and the cherished afghans that she crocheted for her granddaughters and great-grandchildren.

Those left behind to cherish her memory are two sons, Dennis (Jackie) Burich and William (Sandra) Burich; daughter-in-law, Lyla Burich; grandchildren, Kelly Burich Kennedy, Staci (Pat) Burich-Simonett, Heather (Andrew) Burich-Holle, Nikki (Zach) McCabe, Jessica (Jason) Swavely, Lindsay (Craig) Cook, and Kelsey (Dan) Genung; great-grandchildren, Gannon, Lauren, Emelia, Liza, Emma, Owen, Addison, Bennett, Samuel, Ava, McKenna, Carson, and Zoe; sister, Norma (Don) Frenette; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Olson and Joanne Olson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony; sons, Jerome and Wayne; brothers, Stanley, Howard, Raymond, and Gordon Olson; and sister, Lorraine Devine.

The family of Fritz would like to thank the staff at the Rutledge Home, Wissota Transitions, St. Joseph's Hospital, and St. Joseph's Hospice for their care during these times. The family would like to especially thank Dr. Mary Landwehr and staff for the many years of personal care.

A Celebration of her Life will be held at11 a.m., Wednesday, July 29 at Central Lutheran Church, 28 E. Columbia St., Chippewa Fallswith Rev. Paul Oppedahl officiating.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Wednesday at the church. Private interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Central Lutheran Church.