Carol Yates Fricke

Carol Yates Fricke, 78, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 20th, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky, after battling lung cancer. Born on February 24th, 1947, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to the late Alfred J. Fricke and Barbara (Reiner) Fricke. She is preceded in death by her parents, and her sister, Deborah Fricke.

Carol grew up in Cranford, New Jersey, and spent most of her life there until moving to Louisville, Kentucky, to be closer to family in December 2018. Carol graduated from Cranford High School in 1965. She went on to become a Dental Assistant from 1969-1989. Thereafter working at Delta Dental of New Jersey until she retired in 2011. Carol was a Certified and Registered Dental Assistant for 42 years.

Carol's spiritual journey and commitment to community were deeply rooted in her active involvement with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Westfield, New Jersey. For 34 years, her melodious voice graced the church choir, a testament to her love for sacred music and harmony. Carol also answered the call of leadership, contributing her time and talents as the director of both the Sunday School and Acolytes, where she touched many lives with her guidance and care.

Her boundless love for animals, especially her miniature poodles "Candy" and "Hi-Ho," was evident to all who knew her. As a member of the Town and Country Dog Training Club, Carol combined her passion for canines with her skill in teaching, training, and showing dogs, bringing out the best in each pet and owner she worked with. Her influence extended to the youth of Union County, New Jersey, where she served as a co-leader of the 4H Dog Lovers Club, inspiring the next generation to nurture and respect the bonds between humans and their animal companions.

The warmth of Carol's personality radiated through her hobbies. Her fingers deftly crafting beautiful knitted creations, her strategic mind engaged in the cerebral challenges of bridge, and her kitchen always alive with the aromas of her latest culinary masterpiece. Carol's zest for life and her capacity to spread joy through her interests will be dearly missed by her friends and all those whose paths she crossed.

Carol is survived by her sister, Arlene Fricke; her aunt, Dottie Rohrer; her cousins: Donna Rohrer, Neil and Erika Rohrer and their children, Harper and Bennett; her goddaughter, Henriette Harrelson and her children; Kendall and Noah.

A funeral service for Carol will be held in New Jersey on January 24, 2026, at 10:00 am at Trinity Episcopal Church, 119 Forest Avenue, Cranford, New Jersey 07016. Guests are invited to a luncheon immediately following the service in Sherlock Hall at Trinity Church. Burial will be private at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Carol’s honor to: Humane Society of Kentucky, 1000 Lyndon Lane, Louisville, KY 40222; Friends of Music c/o St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 414 Broad Street, Westfield, NJ 07090; or Trinity Episcopal Church, 205 North Avenue East, Cranford, NJ 07016.