Elsie Fries, 86, of Rochester, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at St. Marys hospital, Rochester MN, August 31, 2014 after a long 4 year battle with cancer.

Born August 8, 1928 in Belmont, MI, where she lived on the family farm until retirement at 84, she is survived by her husband Earl of 61 years; sister Alice Hoekstra & brother Frank (Iris) Hoekstra: daughter Denise (Tom DeRienzo, son Gene (Deb) Fries; 7 grandchildren & 6 great grandchildren.  Elsie was preceded in death by her children Lois Headd & Kenneth Fries; parents Henry & Cecelia Hoekstra; sister Helen Laney and brother Myron Vandenburg.

A funeral Mass celebrating Elsie's life will be held Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 10:30AM at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass.

Elsie will then take her final journey home to Michigan where she will be laid to rest after a prayer service at Pederson Funeral Home in Rockford.

Macken Funeral is in charge of the arrangements in Rochester.