Marian Fresch

Marian K. Fresch went to join relatives and friends in fellowship with the Lord on Friday, November 7th, 2014, after a lengthy illness.

She was born in Brownsville, PA on December 17, 1927, a daughter of the late Isaac Clayton Keller and Mary Pauline Piatt Keller. Prior to moving to Erie in 1949 she had resided in California, PA, graduating from California High School, and then went on to the California State Teachers College and Kutztown State Teacher’s College where she received her degree in Library Science.

Marian married Benjamin Fresch in June of 1949 and moved to Erie. She started the library and was the first librarian at Behrend College. She was the Librarian at Erie Resistor, and later became a librarian for the elementary schools in Millcreek and an assistant and substitute librarian at McDowell High School. She was known as “Marian the Librarian”.

Marian had been a member of the Wayne Street Methodist Church until 1955 when she joined Lakewood United Methodist Church. She taught Sunday School at Lakewood for a number of years; was president of the Women’s Society for two years and was chairman of the worship committee for numerous years.

Marian was a member of the Hamot Aid Society since 1968 and also served on the Board and was a second Vice President for a term. She became a proud member of the Presque Isle women’s club in 1957 and has belonged ever since, serving as president from 1962 - 1964 and again from 2004 to 2008 and from 2013-2014. During her membership the Presque Isle Women’s Club was responsible for a number of activities that have benefitted Millcreek and Erie including a drive to provide street lights on West 12th St. in the 1960’s (until then the street was un-lit, unwelcoming and dangerous); expanding library services to Millcreek Township in the Millcreek municipal building; support for the Sarah Reed Home, sponsoring a Candidates night during election season (before it was done on TV), a Civic Eye Crime Stoppers program in Millcreek, an annual Student Art contest and numerous projects benefiting local organizations. She organized and directed numerous living portrayals of the Last Supper at Lakewood United Methodist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Benjamin Willard Fresch and a sister Beatrice Snyder.

She is survived by a brother Charles Keller and his wife Carol in Washington, PA, daughter Pamela F. Terrizzi and her husband Francis, a son David Benjamin Fresch and his wife Cathy Carter Fresch, three grandchildren, Amy Jennifer Terrizzi and her partner Erin Terrizzi, Lindsay Terrizzi Hess and her husband Frank, and Rebecca Katherine Kurtz and her husband Brian and one great-grandchild. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Burton West Lake Funeral Home, 3801 West 26th Street, (at Powell Avenue) on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to attend a service at the Lakewood United Methodist Church, 3856 W 10th Street, Erie, PA 16505, on Wednesday at 10 am with the Reverend Robert L. Lewis officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Lakewood United Methodist Church.

Private Burial in Laurel Hill Cemetery will be held at the convenience of the family.