RAMONA J. FRIEDRICH

Ramona J. Friedrich gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. January 2, 1936 in Chicago, Cook County, IL
D. March 13, 1944 in Round Lake Beach, Lake County, IL
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

Additional Information:

According to the 1940 U.S. Census for Round Lake Beach, Avon Township, Lake County, IL living on Ferndale Drive the household members were:

“John Friedrich, head, age 32, married, highest completed grade: H-2, born in Illinois, residence in 1935, Chicago, IL, occupation: sausage maker, meat company; Gladys Friedrich, wife, age 29, married, highest grade completed: H-2, born in Illinois; residence in 1935: Chicago, IL; Ramona Friedrich, daughter, age 4, single, born in Illinois; Richard Friedrich, son, age 1, single, born in Illinois”

According to the Belvidere Daily Republican (Belvidere IL) Tuesday, March 14, 1944, page 1:

“TWO CHILDREN KILLED BY SMOKE
   WAUKEGAN, March 14 – Ramona, 8, and Richard Friedrich, 5, suffocated today when they fled from their fire-swept home to the connecting garage and were trapped when they were unable to open the doors.
   The tragedy occurred at Round Lake beach in Lake county, an oil stove started the fire and flames quickly swept the five-room cottage.
   Lake county deputy sheriffs said the father, John, 35, was at work in a Waukegan war plant and the children’s mother, Gladys, was visiting neighbors.
   The fire did not touch the garage, but the small addition to the cottage was filled with smoke when the members of the Round Lake volunteer fire department found the children huddled in a basket.”

According to the Journal Gazette (Mattoon, IL) Wednesday, March 15, 1944, page 6:

“TWO CHILDREN SUFFOCATE
   Waukegan, Ill. – (INS) – Richard Friedrich, 5, and his sister Roman, 8, suffocated Tuesday when they fled their burning home to an adjacent garage from which they were unable to escape.  The fire destroyed the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Friedrich, at nearby Round Lake Beach.”

According to the Lake County Illinois Genealogical Society. “Strang Funeral Home – Grayslake, Illinois – 1908-1964”. Mundelein IL. 2015:

“Surname: FREIDRICH (sic); Name: Ramona; Birth Date/Place: 02 Jan 1938, Chicago; Death Date/Place: 14 Mar 1944, Round Lake Beach; Cause of Death: Burns and Suffocation, Home Fire; (blank); Occupation: (blank); Minister – Funeral Home: Rev. EISFELDT, Chapel; Burial Place – Next of Kin: Fort Hill Cem, John FREIDRICH (sic) (GER)-Father, Gladys THIEL (Saline Co, IL)-Mother”