Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

July 1, 2024

CHARLOTTE – Theodora “Todi” Winifred Frizzell Duncan Frick, 95, beloved wife of Thomas Murrell Frick, Sr., passed away Monday, July 1, 2024.

Theodora Frizzell was born on June 5, 1929, in Springfield, VT to the late Martha McDanold Frizzell and Theodore Justin Frizzell, of Peachblow Farm, Charlestown, NH. Unusual for the time, both of her parents had graduate degrees from Columbia and Rutgers, respectively. Her father was a progressive dairy farmer, acclaimed animal breeder, banker, inventor (he made an all-electric car in 1974) and community leader. Her mother was in the first class of female students at the University of New Hampshire, a state congresswoman for twenty-two years and the first ever female chair of the state Judiciary Committee. Todi was the second of five children.

Todi attended Cornell University where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. She graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics and Nutrition. Todi taught these subjects in high school as her early career. After a mid-life experience working in mission hospital in Leogané, Haiti, she completed her RN degree. Her remaining professional decades were spent as an oncology charge nurse at Carolinas Medical Center and later in private duty nursing.

Todi became an active member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church after she married Thomas Murrell Frick, Sr. in 1981. She joined the Choir, the Handbell Choir, the Altar Guild, Connie Counts Women’s Circle and the Red Hat Ladies Society of St. Luke’s. Mrs. Frick was a Cub Scout den mother and a Girl Scout troop leader. Active in the PTA for all her children, she was an Amiga for Parents without Partners (where she met Tom) and volunteered with him for Habitat for Humanity. Todi gave gallons of blood to the American Red Cross. She was active with the Junior League when she first came to Charlotte, an officer in her garden club and enjoyed a private supper club for decades. As avid dancers, Todi and Tom joined both the Charlotte Couples Dance Club and the Metrolina Dance Club. From clogging and Western square dancing to ballroom waltzes, they enjoyed them all together.

A great outdoorswoman, Todi camped in more than thirty-five states, picking blackberries and foraging for blueberries at every opportunity. A real water baby, she loved swimming and sailing then shared that love with her family. She was slow to come to fishing, but embraced it after Tom agreed to bait her hooks for her. An eager traveler, Todi traveled widely with Tom and her daughter Pat and son-in-law Peter Raven. From Edinburgh Castle (where one of her ancestors was imprisoned) to the Great Wall of China, the DMZ of Vietnam, and remote isle of Iona (where other ancestors are buried), Todi learned local foods, music and customs, including a great proficiency with chopsticks. On a cruise with Tom, Pat and Peter, and two granddaughters around both islands of New Zealand she learned the Maori custom of the wagging tongue greetings (at which she excelled) and swam with the endangered Hector’s dolphins. Most of all, she loved returning home to Windswept, her garden and her church. Todi was an avid gardener. She especially loved lilacs, hellebores and her elegant white wisteria. A regular at the mah-jongg and bridge table, Todi accumulated Master points at duplicate as well as lifelong friendships at the table. Her laughter and glee at a grand slam was infectious!

Todi is survived by her brother Robert "Bob" Frizzell, her sister Elizabeth "Betsy" Bascom and brother-in-law Allyn Bascom. Her loss is greatly mourned by her beloved husband, Thomas Murrell Frick, Sr., and an expanded family of seven children, eleven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her descendants are:

-Theodore(Ted) Duncan, his daughters Sloan and Carson Duncan

-Patricia (Pat) Duncan Raven, PhD (Peter) and children Elizabeth R. McQuinn, Alice, Francis and Katherine Raven, and grandchildren Noah, Nate, Louisa and new baby girl (due in July) Raven

-Richard Duncan (Nancy) and daughter Clare Duncan

-Stephanie Frick Chambers (Duncan) and fur children

-Thomas Murrell Frick, Jr. (Sonja), daughters Meghan Frick Wilson (Thomas) and grandchildren Colbie, Abbie and Henry Wilson and Sofia Frick Bowman (Jonathon)

-Brooks Frick and children Thomas and Sylvia Johnston

-Connie Fletcher Frick Rothlisberger (Scott) and fur children

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her older sister, Dr. Katharine Frizzell Blaisdell, her baby brother, Dr. James A. Frizzell and her first husband, Dr. Gordon Duke Duncan.

Todi Frick loved her family, church and community. She was generous, caring, kind and welcoming. A great hostess, divine bread maker (literally, she made the communion bread from scratch) and a patient teacher. A caregiver and friendly neighbor, a hard working volunteer and team leader, Todi Frick gave more to all of us than she ever took. A unique, special soul. She has been greatly blessed and will be sorely missed.

Special thanks and appreciation to Mrs. Frick’s wonderful caregivers Teresa Johnson and Dorette Robinson, and the Harris Hospice care team at Novant Presbyterian Hospital.

A Celebration of Life for Todi will be held 3:00 PM, Sunday, July 7, 2024, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 3200 Park Road, Charlotte, NC, 28209. The family will receive friends after the service. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed at the following link: St. Luke's ELCA Charlotte

Contributions may be made in her memory to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 3200 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28220-1063.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.