Romona Mae Fritz

Romona Mae (Priebe) Fritz, age 90, died Saturday June 23, 2018 at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth in Rochester. Romona was born March 4, 1928, the first of eight children to Mayo Lemon Sr. and Josephine (Hanf) Priebe.
She began her early years at the Villa Maria Academy in Frontenac, MN as a full- time boarding student from elementary through high school. She considered her time at the Villa to be some of the happiest years of her life. Upon graduating from high school, Romona attended Ursuline College in New Orleans. There, she reveled in all that New Orleans was in the 1940s. The thing she loved most was driving her convertible through the city streets, top down on humid late nights in search of live jazz and blues. During those years Romona was the life of every party and most often, the most beautiful girl in the room.
She moved back to Rochester and met her future husband R. Scott Fritz. The two married and settled in Rochester, having five children together. She was a homemaker and mother during this time. The marriage later ended in divorce.
In the 1970s Romona became a licensed real estate agent and worked as such in the Rochester area. She met fellow real estate agent John Hahn and they moved to Zumbro Falls, MN where Mrs. Fritz took-up ownership and operation of the Neptune Bar and Lounge. They ran the business successfully and had a loyal customer base until their retirement and the death of Mr. Hahn in the late 80's. Romona retired to Ajijic, a lakeside town in Jalisco, Mexico. She spent her winters there and her summers at her home in Spring Valley, MN.
She lived for a time with her son, Tracy, in Marshfield, WI, helping to raise her grandchildren Nikki and Dustin Fritz. Later she moved to Kasson, MN to be with her son Bradly and was a constant source of support and wisdom for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren there.
Romona returned to Rochester for the final years of her life. She did not suffer a long or painful illness; she was surrounded by her children and grandchildren when she passed.
Romona Fritz was as kind and as generous a soul as one could ever hope to meet. She never judged and she only offered to help when one was in need. She loved seafood and a good steak, expensive clothes, a good jazz piece played on the piano, animals, babies and she always drove a Lincoln Town Car.
Romona was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Paul and Mayo Jr.; two sisters, Suzanne Priebe and Marcia Priebe Gray; as well as a baby son, Gary Frank Fritz.
She is survived by five children: Becky Fritz of Austin, Berry (Terry) of Aitkin, Tracy (Reynalyn) of Marshfield, WI, Brad (Becky) of Kasson, and Marti (John) of Columbia, SC. Romona is survived by eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by three siblings; Mary Vine, Joseph (Diane) Priebe, and James Priebe, all of Rochester. She will be missed by those whose lives she touched with her warm and open heart-the countless many who are not listed here. Memorial donations are suggested in her name to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. Online condolences are welcome and may be written at mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com