Fredericka "Freddie" Korzenski, age 77, passed from this Earth on Sunday, March 5, 2023, peacefully and surrounded by her loving family at her home in Dunkirk, after a very short illness with cancer.
Freddie was born in Lindenfels, Germany on March 26, 1945 to Friedrich and Ruth Merx and was later adopted by George Mintz of Long Island. After a pretty complicated start in life, she moved from Germany to the U.S. at the age of five. She grew up as an "Army Brat" but ultimately graduated from Rich Township High School in Park Forrest, IL.
She married David Korzenski in 1966 and loved and cared for him until his death in 2016. Freddie again found love and a best friend from Long Island in Kevin Dunne, who survives her.
Freddie worked at BOCES in Fredonia as a special needs aide, but she was most known for a longtime career as an aerobics instructor in her community. She had an affection for all things nature including hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, bird watching, kayaking, and walking her dog. Her other passions included traveling the world and beach glass collecting. Her greatest accomplishments were her children, and they were most certainly blessed by a woman of a selfless, loving nature who offered all of herself to give her kids the best in life. Her favorite expression, "Jeepers," certainly described her energy!
Her grandchildren were the loves of her life. "Oma," as she was known to them, was always right at the kids’ side doing rock climbing, tug-of-war, horseback riding and even water sliding in foam at the young age of 74!
Freddie is preceded in death by her father, mother and stepfather. She is survived by her loving son, Theodore "Teddy" Korzenski (wife Jill) and his children, Libby, Mandy, Carter, Anni and Max; stepdaughter, Riley; her loving daughter, Sarah (Kozenski) Lambert (husband Kory) and her children, Kooper and Braxton; her sister, Doris Venth; her brothers, Jerry, George and Kenneth Mintz, Sr.; her best friend, Susanne Lais Riedlin from Mullheim, Germany; and her dog, Hansi.
A small but intimate gathering will take place at a later date with immediate family and close friends.
Arrangements are by the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home, 736 Central Avenue in Dunkirk.
