Obituary of Carol F. Fritts
Middlesex, NJ – Carol F. (Reinhard) Fritts, 93, youngest child of the late Frederick and Elsa (Castleburg) Reinhard, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 15, at Bridgeway Care Center in Hillsborough. Born in New Brunswick, Carol was a first-generation American, as her parents emigrated from Geneva, Switzerland. Carol grew up in Iselin and attended Woodbridge Public Schools.
Carol lived in Newark and Belle Mead before moving to Middlesex, where she resided for twenty-seven years. She and her husband Raymond retired to Virginia in 1997. They spent seven years in North Chesterfield, VA, before returning back to NJ. In 2019 they moved to Somerset before finally relocating to Avalon Assisted Living in Hillsborough in 2024.
In 1948 Carol was employed by Lewis Co. Cigar Factory in Newark, then RCA, also in Newark. After the births of her children, she worked part-time as a bus driver for Montgomery School District. In 1969 Carol returned to work full time and spent sixteen years at Johns-Manville, Inc. in the Accounts Payable Department. She then transferred to Silver Line Windows in Piscataway and retired from Philips Lighting in 1996.
At an early age, Carol experienced the loss of her mother, Elsa, and was raised by her father, Frederick, with her three brothers. Wherever her brothers were, Carol was eager to join them. She learned how to roller skate, ride motorcycles and she even kept an active motorcycle license until she turned seventy.
Following in her brother's footsteps led to a passion for leading an active lifestyle. Carol was a member of the Newark Comets Motorcycle Club, the Motor Maids of America, and the American Motorcycle Association. She was also a member of the Jersey Jolters Roller Derby Team and participated in pair’s figure skating with her brother Emil.
While working at Johns-Manville, Inc., she was a member of their bowling league and often could be found at Manville Lanes. Her feisty spirit and zest for life was evident to all who knew her.
Following her retirement, Carol continued an active lifestyle. She enjoyed playing ping pong, bocce ball, dance classes, and a workout class referred to as healthy bones. In addition, Carol was also very fond of social gatherings at her community clubhouse.
Carol was born on Halloween and loved celebrating both the holiday and her birthday. She would revel in choosing her costumes every year, whether it was for her birthday parties, greeting trick-or-treaters at the door or attending clubhouse Halloween parties.
While living in Virginia, Carol and her husband Ray enjoyed being movie extras, most notabley in Hannibal (1991), The Contender (2000) and Mikey (2004).
Carol leaves behind the love of her life, Raymond; her children, Clifford Smith of Flemington, Carol Smith of Hillsborough, Sara Smith of Middlesex and four stepchildren. She will be missed by her grandchildren, Clifford Bross (Rob Nickerson) of Golden, CO, Shayne Smith of Boca Raton, FL, and Salina Pellios of Somerset, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be held at Middlesex Funeral Home, 528 Bound Brook Road, Middlesex, NJ 08846 on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 2-4 & 7-9pm.
Funeral services will begin in the funeral home on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 10:30am.
Immediately following the funeral service, Carol will be laid to rest at Graceland Memorial Park, Kenilworth, NJ
To send online condolences to the Fritts family, please visit Carol’s interactive web page at www.MiddlesexFuneralHome.com.