Caroline Frei

Caroline Ann Frei, 102, of Boise, formerly of Craigmont, passed away on November 15, 2019 at her home. Caroline was born October 9, 1917 to Peter and Katie Sharbach Kinzer in Uniontown, Wa. The middle child of twelve children she grew up on the farm outside of Uniontown , as many did in that time, learning the meaning of hard work, discipline and responsibility. She shared chores with both her sisters and brothers, working both in the house and outside on the farm. She graduated from St. Boniface High School in 1935 and attended one semester at Marylhurst College in Oregon till the money ran out. She returned home to help her sisters when the babies came as well as working for neighbors and friends. It was a time of helping her sister, Eva, that she met Vince and worked in his bar, the Eagle Inn (later the Half-Way Club) in Ferdinand. He always told the story that he couldn’t afford to pay her, so he married her, although she was the love of his life. They were married in Uniontown on August 10, 1941. The next day they drove to Ferdinand, opened the bar and went to work. In 1943 they purchased the grocery store in Ferdinand and started an era with the Frei Mercantile that would last until 1973 when they sold the store and moved to Craigmont. It was Caroline’s work ethic that helped her to manage a household of nine children and the accounting for the grocery store. She and Vince worked as a team to make a successful business that survived many ups and downs. In 1961 they built a modern store that enabled them to draw customers from across the prairie and Lewiston and even had customers as far away as Nevada when they came for the German sausage, that was the signature item of Frei Mercantile. She greatly valued her faith and family, was a member of the Catholic Church at Assumption Parish in Ferdinand for 75 years. She was president of the Christian Mothers, a member of the Get-Together pinochle club, an avid seamstress and an even more avid quilter. If you have one of her quilts, bring it to the funeral and we will decorate the church. In 2016, Caroline sold the family home in Craigmont and moved to Boise where she enjoyed her life in a 55+ community and the love of family in the Boise area. Caroline was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Vince; daughter, Teresa Kay; grandson, Chad; granddaughter, Tess and a son- in- law, Tom Hoene; and 11 brothers and sisters. She is survived by Vince’s siblings: Ray, Aggie Haener and Dorothy Hansen. She is survived by her children: Dan (Charlie), Estacada, OR, Maxine Hoene Williams (Ron), Boise, Connie Bruegeman (Cliff), Cottonwood, Carol Haddock (Jim), Meridian, Jeanne Vance (Brent), Meridian, Wayne (Irene), Coeur d’Alene, Terry (Cheryl), Hauser and Annette Frei-Allen (Jim), Livermore, CA, and by 34 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren and one great great grandchild. *See Service Information tab