Mary Frohlich, 95, formerly of Apple River, IL passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at Allure of Mount Carroll, IL.  She was born on June 30, 1928 to Adam and Maria (Dornstadter) Berauer in Srpski Miletić, Yugoslavia. In 1953, she married Rudolph Frohlich at the St. Ida Catholic Church in Chicago, IL.

Mary began her life in the idyllic village of Srpski Miletić, Yugoslavia with her brother, Heinrich Berauer and her sister Katie (Berauer) Mathien.  She endured the destruction of a way of life and the dislocation and migration of the post-WWII years. Through it all she found the love of her life Rudolph (Rudy) Frohlich and subsequently raised a great family in Chicago, which includes Anna (Frohlich) Lee and Rudi Frohlich. The families Frohlich and Mathien (Katie and Bruno) lived close-by and were closely allied throughout all of the 8 Frohlich/Mathien cousin's childhoods, all of whom would affirm that this was to their great benefit.

In 1976, Mary and Rudy, along with family and friends built, with their own hands, their dream house in Apple Canyon Lake and permanently moved there in 1986. As she did everywhere, in Apple Canyon Mary made lifelong wonderful, kind, generous neighbors. Mary would always have fresh baked cookies and cinnamon rolls for all occasions, she loved sharing.  Dancing around the kitchen table at every possible moment was de rigueur.

Among the highlights of her life was the birth of her grandchildren Rachael and Elizabeth, their marriages to Thom Greiner and Scott Duxbury, respectively, and her precious great-grandchildren, Max Greiner and Dylan Duxbury.

Mary loved her family, friends, especially children, employers, neighbors and caretakers and because of the love she gave was in-turn beloved. Mary was secure in her twilight years under the care of the folks at the Allure Memory Care Center in Mt. Carroll, IL, for which she was and her family will always be grateful.  Throughout her long life, Mary was devout, guileless and ever pure-of-heart, one sharp witted nephew-in-law quipped, "It is always good to have Mary pray for me because I know she has a direct line to the top."

She is survived by her two children- Anna (Dan) Lee of McMinnville, OR and Rudi (Zelma) Frohlich, Jana Frohlich of Elgin, IL as well as a multitude of others including two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, 5 nieces, 1 nephew, their spouses, children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Rudolph in 2012.

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Apple River, IL.

Cremation rites have been accorded.

Burial will take place at a later date at St Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Apple River, IL.

In lieu of flowers a memorial may be given to the American Diabetic Association.

A memorial has been established in her memory.