Marcia Bamford Fris

April 8, 1932 - December 18, 2024

Marcia Bamford Fris, 92, of Villa Park, died at her home of natural causes on December 18, 2024, surrounded by her husband of seventy years and her children.

Marcia was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on April 8th,1932 to George “Bud” Bamford and Lena Bamford, joining sister Mary as the youngest of two children. 

Marcia graduated from Ishpeming High School in 1950 and went on to study nursing at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago where she became a registered nurse. She met Mike Fris through her sister’s husband, when the two men traveled to Ishpeming on a weekend leave from the Army. Marcia set Mike up with a girlfriend, but he much preferred Marcia. They were married on March 12, 1955. Over the years they welcomed six children and Marcia left nursing to become a full time mom. She returned to the profession in 1976 and remained a pediatric nurse until her husband retired in 1992.

Mike and Marcia resided in Oak Park, Illinois until moving to Sacramento, California in 1959. They then moved to Villa Park in 1975 and have remained there ever since. Their home of almost 50 years has remained the central gathering place for family celebrations.

Marcia enjoyed spending time in the sun in her backyard and dips in her pool as long as the water was warm enough. She spent many years playing golf and bridge with her husband and friends. She was always ready to play a card or board game of any sort with her children and grandchildren. Never afraid to try a new recipe, she often wowed others with her culinary skills and her family always looked forward to her home-cooked meals. Marcia had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed traveling extensively in Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, and throughout the continental United States. Many early trips were in a station wagon with her six children driving across the country to visit family. Family was most important to her and they felt that importance every day.

Marcia is survived by her husband, Mike, her six children: Pamela Fris, Susan Boone, Karen Grant, Debra Pew, Michael Fris, and Andrea Berry, her twelve grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

She will be remembered for her kind and gentle spirit which inspires her family every day.

Services will be held at St. Norberts Church in Orange, CA, on Friday January 10 at 12:00pm. The family will be wearing blue and yellow in honor of Marcia’s favorite colors and encourages attendees to do so also if possible.