Fr. Canice Froehlich

Fr. Canice Froehlich, senior friar of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of S. Conrad, quietly passed awayThursday evening, July 29, at Via Christi Village in Hays, just three weeks short of his 95 birthday. Born on Aug. 19, 1920 in Pittsburgh PA, Father was the son of George I. and Matilda (Bottner) Froehlich, and the youngest of three children. After graduating from St. Fidelis College and Seminary in Herman PA in 1940, he entered the Capuchin novitiate at Cumberland MD and made first profession of vows the next year. Following two years of philosophy studies in Victoria KS and four years of theology in Washington DC, he was ordained to the priesthood on Feb. 11, 1947, by Bishop John McNamara, auxiliary bishop of Baltimore-Washington. Playfully nicknamed "Roughhouse" by his seminary classmates, Fr. Canice was anything but that. Throughout his 74 years as a Capuchin and 68 as a priest, he was widely known as a humble, gentle, compassionate, and quiet priest, whose first interest was the spiritual life. After ordination, Father earned a Masters degree in library science at Catholic University of America and spent 19 years as librarian and faculty member at St. Josephs Military Academy, Hays KS. When the school merged with St. Francis Seminary of Victoria in 1970 and became Thomas More Prep, Canice started and for two years directed the Priesthood-Brotherhood program to nurture young vocations. During most of his years as a priest, he served as a gifted confessor and excellent spiritual director. Along with Fr. Simon Conrad who died at the age of 92 in 2013, he spent 34 years as a downtown confessor in St. Louis: 17 years at the Alverne Hotel and Public Chapel, and 17 at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Church. After his assignment to St. Josephs Friary in Hays in 2008, Father began a special evangelization project involving an extensive greetings card apostolate. Scores of people received personal messages from him on special days in their lives. Besides his Capuchin brothers, Father is survived by seven nephews and nieces: Capuchin Fr. Jim Froehlich of Washington DC; Mary Ann Moore, Jeanne Graff, Lawrence Froehlich, Clare Walk and Carole Succop, all of Pittsburgh; and George Froehlich of Beverly Hills FL. A wake is scheduled Sunday evening, 7-9 p.m., in St. Fidelis Basilica, Victoria; and the funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, in the same basilica, led by Bishop Edward Weisenburger of Salina KS. Internment will be in Pittsburgh. Memorials can be made to the Capuchin Province Of Mid America Brocks Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS. 67601 Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed tokeithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com











Service Information









Visitation Sunday

August 2, 2015

7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Basilica of St. Fidelis

Cathedral

Victoria, Kansas 67671









Mass of Christian Burial Monday

August 3, 2015

10:00 AM

Basilica of St. Fidelis

Cathedral

Victoria, Kansas 67671