Frieda K. Maxwell

SALISBURY — Frieda K. Maxwell, 94, passed away on Nov. 21, 2011, at Sharon Hospital, with her daughter and caring ICU nurses Barbara, Christine and Dorita by her side. She was the widow of Donald F. Maxwell. Frieda was born June 10, 1917, in Greenwich, the daughter of the late Mary (Niernzee) and Joseph Korntheuer. She was a 1939 graduate of Danbury Teachers College (Western Connecticut State College and then Western Connecticut State University) and was honored at her 70th college reunion in 2009. After college she taught kindergarten at Horace Hurlbutt Elementary School in Weston. She first came to the area while in college, visiting Molly Kelly in Taconic. Since 1950 she enjoyed many summers and weekends at Greystone in Taconic, fishing on Twin Lakes and playing cards with her husband, daughter and friends. In 1967 she became a full-time resident of Salisbury and worked at Canaan National Bank as a teller and secretary.Frieda was active into her early 90s, volunteering at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation in North Canaan in the former gift shop and as co-treasurer of the Geer Auxiliary. She also spent many hours volunteering at Noble Horizons gift shop and made many friends among the staff, nurses and aides she met there.She loved supporting the arts and was a firm believer that charity begins at home. Her niece’s husband called her the “Energizer Bunny” as she was always on the go, either driving her friends around or attending local functions. Frieda was a positive, appreciative and upbeat giver who always had a smile on her face and kind words to share. She was always ready to go anywhere and do anything, and never stopped taking classes and learning. She was famous for her delicious clam dip and for sending beautiful, thoughtful greeting cards for all occasions to her many friends and family. She is survived by her daughter, Donna, of Salisbury; her brother, Walter Korntheuer, and his wife, Barbara, of Naples, Fla.; her nephew, Bill Korntheuer, of Greenwich; her niece, Diane Korntheuer, and her husband,Peter Grzybala, of Glastonbury; her nephew, Paul Korntheuer, and his wife, Linda Griffith, of San Francisco, Calif.; and two grand-nieces, Kim Grzybala and Emma Korntheuer. Her older brother, Otto Korntheuer, predeceased her in 2006.There will be a celebration of life service at Noble Horizons on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. with a gathering after in the community room. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 1, Salisbury, CT 06068; OWL’s Kitchen, PO Box 705, Lakeville, CT 06039; or Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance, PO Box 582, Salisbury, CT 06068.Arrangements are under the care of the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon.