Frieda Kiehl Romberger was the daughter of George D. Romberger and his wife Anna Laura Miller Romberger.

Frieda was born (according to Peace United church records) on June 6, 1903, and she was baptised July 3, 1906 at Union Salem (aka Peace United) Church, in Berrysburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Her middle name comes from her grandmother's maiden name- her father George D. Romberger was the son of Mary Sophia (nee Kiehl) Romberger.

Her death certificate tells us Frieda died at Philadelphia General Hospital of alcoholic cirrhosis with bronchopneumonia contributing.

Frieda is remembered as a free spirit who, while married (perhaps informally), had "an understanding" with her husband, whose name is not remembered by living family. She is recalled as slender and attractive. Despite her being said to be married, she appears on the state death index under her Romberger surname, and is listed as passing in Philadelphia on May 22, 1948. Frieda was interred May 26, 1948. She was in her mid-forties.

On her death certificate, her informant said that her usual residence was "15th and Masters street" in Philadelphia. Her informant, whose name is new to me, is listed as Charles Brennan of 1438 N. 15th which basically is 15th and Masters, so perhaps by generalizing her address he was being discreet to his lady friend... or neighbor, but since Frieda passed in the hospital where he was apparently visiting and not at home it's hard to say.

Further... the death certificate asks for the informant's signature. The handwriting of Charles Brennan's signature is the same hand filling in Frieda's date of birth, her parents' names, and other details a mere neighbor would not know. It seems Mr. Brennan knew her rather well.

Not even a year later, an unmarried bookkeeper named Charles J. Brennan would die in Philadelphia of chronic myocarditis at age 66. His last address was 1308 N. 18th street which is 4/10 of a mile from Frieda's informant Brennan's address. His funeral home was the same that had handled Frieda's burial, Mulligan. His physician was the same one Frieda's family used, Major H. Joseph, MD. That seems beyond coincidental.

In the 1940's Frieda's living options would have been limited; few of her Philadelphia-living family were left. Those that were lived with the judgemental family busybody, her sister Lila. If Frieda found herself a nice older man to look after her, good for her. I hope she did.

For later research, regarding Mr. Brennan:

From the Feb 21 1949 Pottsville Republican:

Charles Brennan, native of Jacksons and former resident of Mahanoy City died Friday at the home of his sister, Mrs. Harry Wells, 1308 N 18th street, Philadelphia, having been ill for several years.

He was a son of the late Lawrence and Catherine Brennan, and spent most of his life in Mahanoy City where he was employed by the Thomas Wholesale Grocery Co. He had been residing in Philadelphia for five years.

To survive, he leaves one brother, James, Yatesville; two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Kline, Frackville, and Mrs Wells, with whom he resided.

The funeral will be held Tuesday morning in Philadelphia, with interment in St. Canicus Cemetery, Mahanoy City.

I also found a brief death notice for him, Philadelphia Inquirer, and the only new info was that there was a 7:30 AM funeral at the undertaker's, and a 9:00 Solemn Mass of Requiem at Church of Gesu.

Frieda's family burial plot has her mother Anna Laura, her sister also named Anna Laura, and her brother Donald. The family plot is very discreet, tucked all the way back at the end of the cemetery, overlooking the Schuylkill Expressway and nearby Manayunk and Roxborough. Go to the rear road, and look for the marker for the Hendries which is currently between two shrubs as seen in the picture. The Rombergers are in the unmarked spot just aside of that stone, as indicated by the arrow in the picture.

Above the Romberger family is a stone for Weinacht, and above and to the right are stones for Bardo and Schaeffer.