Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. Paul E. Fryberger CSC

Nov. 20, 1906 - Dec. 2, 1999

South Bend Tribune 12/5/1999

The Reverend Paul E. Fryberger, C.S.C., 93, died on Thursday evening, Dec. 2, at his home at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind.

He was born in Canton, Ohio, on Nov. 20, 1906, to the late John W. and Mary A. (Arnold) Fryberger. After attending public schools in Lake Township, Ohio, he entered Holy Cross Seminary as a candidate in 1926. On July 1, 1928, he entered St. Joseph Novitiate at Notre Dame, Ind., where he pronounced his first vows on July 2, 1929. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1932, and continued his theological studies for four years at Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C.

Father Fryberger made his perpetual profession of religious vows on July 2, 1932. He was ordained to the priesthood at Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, Ind., on June 24, 1936, by the Most Reverend John F. Noll, bishop of Fort Wayne, Ind.

He began his priestly life as chaplain at Gibault School for Boys in Terre Haute, Ind., for three years, and then taught high school at Columbia Preparatory School in Portland, Ore., from 1939 to 1943. Following a year as assistant pastor at Holy Cross Parish in South Bend, and two years at Our Lady of Sorrows in Portland, Father Fryberger began the major part of his priestly life as a teacher of economics at Notre Dame from 1946 to 1959, as well as a storied rector of a residence hall. From 1959 to 1967 he taught at the University of Portland.

In 1967 he became chaplain at Rancho San Antonio in Chatsworth, Calif., until he returned to Portland to serve at St. Anthony Parish in 1972. In 1974 he took up residence with the Holy Cross community at the University of Portland where he was the resident auto mechanic-tinkerer to the veritable age of 90. He assisted in parishes on weekends and substituted for weeks for pastors on vacation, especially in Enterprise, Ore., until his own infirmities forced him to give up driving. He returned to Notre Dame and Holy Cross House in 1997. There, with increasing physical problems, he awaited the "time to go home." He died peacefully at 10:05 p.m.

Father Fryberger is survived by seven nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Katherine (Herman) Kanel and Dorothy (Richard) Bowman; and by two brothers, George (Ethel) Fryberger and Arnold (Eileen) Fryberger.

A wake service will be held in the chapel of Moreau Seminary at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 6.

Visitation will take place at Moreau Seminary beginning at 4 p.m. The funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame.

Burial will follow the funeral liturgy in the Community Cemetery at Notre Dame.

The Kanieswki Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.