Worcester: Alice Gloria Berglund Frodigh passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on July 19, 2023.
Alice lived a full, wonderful life of 95 years filled with love and commitment to her family and faith. She was born on January 5, 1928 in Worcester, Massachusetts to Hjalmar and Julia Berglund, who immigrated from Sweden at the turn of the 20th century, raising 8 children. In addition to her parents, Alice was predeceased by her four brothers, Frederick, Harry, Clarence, Robert, and by her three sisters, Grace, Patricia, and Nina. She was also predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert Frodigh.
Alice’s faith gave her strength and saw her through many difficult times in her young life, losing her brother Harry to the European conflict during World War II when she was 13 and then both of her parents at a very young age of 23. She was the youngest daughter of eight children and regaled her family and friends with stories of growing up in a large family, having huge Sunday dinners and Swedish smorgasbords, relatives chatting and singing in Swedish, and sharing wonderful experiences growing up off of Holden Street in Worcester in the home that her father built himself. Alice and her older siblings were intelligent, skilled and competitive. Her brothers made All-Star teams in every sport in Worcester, her three beautiful starlet-like sisters, always “dressed to the nines”, were able to hold conversations about any topic of the day, and Alice was a figure skater and skier, as well as an accomplished musician.
Alice was trained in Worcester and Boston in classical music; playing piano, harpsichord and tracker pipe organ. She continued to study tracker organ under Steve Long and played in the tradition of Bach. She was a member of the American Organist Guild, studying piano with Julius Chalof of Boston and studying organ in Worcester with Leroy Hansen and Barclay Wood. Alice went on to be the assistant organist at Trinity Lutheran Church. She also played at Mechanics Hall and Old West Church in Boston, to name a few venues. Alice sang in the Trinity Lutheran Church choir all her life and was a member of the Bach society.
Alice met the love of her life in confirmation class at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bob Frodigh. Together with Bob, she raised three children, spending every summer on their beloved Cape Cod with family and friends in Eastham and Wellfleet and going on winter ski trips to Vermont and New Hampshire. Alice shared her never-ending love of adventure and music (not just Bach and Beethoven, but Big Band and jazz classics and popular hits from The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton), her witty sense of humor, warm smile (behind twinkling blue eyes), and words of encouragement with all around her. She was an avid gardener; her peonies, lilacs, and lily of the valley were the highlights of her home; a masterful home cook and entertainer, and a generous neighbor.
In addition to her focus on family, Alice was very involved in her community. She was president of the PTA, served on the Memorial hospital volunteer auxiliary board, was a member of one of the first graduating classes of the Worcester Art Museum docent program, and was very involved in Worcester and Boston music.
Alice is survived by her three children, John Robert Frodigh (Kathy Simpson), Julie Ann Frodigh Crowley (David), and Suzanne Elizabeth Frodigh. She is also survived by six grandchildren, who affectionately know her as Mammy, David Crowley (Turner), Lisbet Crowley (Craig Nelson), Trudy Crowley, Robert Nathaniel Crowley (Paige Garson), Emma Frodigh, Robert Frodigh, and three great grandchildren, Anna and Ezra Crowley and Lilly Nelson, whom she adored. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to Ascend Hospice and the many caregivers over the years for their commitment and loving care of our Mom. The funeral will occur on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 11:00 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster St., Worcester, MA 01609. There will be no calling hours. Nordgren Memorial Chapel 300 Lincoln St Worcester Ma. 01605 is assisting the family with arraignments. In addition to or in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church “Music at Trinity”, in memory of Alice. Burial will be private at All Faiths Cemetery, Worcester MA. To leave an online condolence message, please click guestbook link.